Livestock producers are facing increasing pressure to reduce the environmental and animal-welfare impacts of production, while also managing the challenge of an increasingly variable climate and diminishing resources. This perspective paper highlights the role for animal scientists to contribute to the sustainability of future livestock systems. We argue the need for a broader, more inclusive and more integrated concept of animal science, better connections among scientists, producers, consumers and policy makers, and more support for the next generation of animal scientists. Animal scientists have an important role to play in providing the evidence to support the social licence of livestock production and inform decisions made by policy makers and consumers regarding the production and consumption of livestock products. Animal scientists can also assist producers to adapt to social, environmental and political challenges that affect their livelihoods and the way they farm. Traditionally, animal science has focussed on species- and discipline-specific areas of research such as ruminant nutrition, genetics or reproductive physiology. While this fundamental research remains essential to understand the underlying biology of livestock production and improve production efficiency, it needs to be better integrated into research applied at and beyond the herd or flock level. Systems thinkers who can apply this knowledge across farm, regional and national scales also have an important role in providing information to key decision makers, from farmers to national government. Better engagement with the social and economic sciences can inform how animal scientists and extension services interact with producers to understand constraints to production as well as adoption of new technology and co-develop evidence-based solutions. Underlying this, the demographics of those who study and work in animal science are changing. Australian animal industries require the best and brightest minds to overcome future challenges and engaging these students as the new face of Australian animal science is an essential step towards sustainable future livestock systems.

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新技能、网络和挑战：澳大利亚动物生产科学的变化面

畜牧生产者在减少生产对环境和动物福利的影响方面面临越来越大的压力，同时还要应对气候变化越来越大和资源减少的挑战。这份观点文件强调了动物科学家在为未来畜牧系统的可持续性做出贡献方面的作用。我们认为需要更广泛、更具包容性和更综合的动物科学概念，需要在科学家、生产者、消费者和政策制定者之间建立更好的联系，并为下一代动物科学家提供更多支持。动物科学家在提供证据以支持畜牧生产的社会许可以及为决策者和消费者就畜产品的生产和消费做出的决定提供信息方面可以发挥重要作用。动物科学家还可以帮助生产者适应影响其生计和耕作方式的社会、环境和政治挑战。传统上，动物科学侧重于特定物种和学科的研究领域，例如反刍动物营养、遗传学或生殖生理学。虽然这项基础研究对于了解畜牧生产的基本生物学和提高生产效率仍然必不可少，但需要更好地将其整合到牛群或羊群层面及其以外的研究中。能够在农场、区域和国家范围内应用这些知识的系统思想家在向关键决策者（从农民到国家政府）提供信息方面也发挥着重要作用。更好地参与社会和经济科学可以告知动物科学家和推广服务如何与生产者互动，以了解生产限制以及采用新技术并共同开发基于证据的解决方案。在此基础上，在动物科学领域学习和工作的人的人口统计数据正在发生变化。澳大利亚动物产业需要最优秀、最聪明的人才来克服未来的挑战，让这些学生参与进来，因为澳大利亚动物科学的新面貌是迈向可持续未来畜牧系统的重要一步。