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5.7 Meat Production Methods

2 min readjanuary 4, 2023

Jenni MacLean

Jenni MacLean

Jenni MacLean

Jenni MacLean

Reasons for Change

Livestock meat farming or production has changed significantly over the years. With increased populations and more demand, agriculture has begun to need much larger supplies of meat to ship out and provide. Shifts in the industry have resulted in more, smaller, and more dangerous feeding operations to produce an excess of meat versus older, more traditional, smaller and family-owned farming businesses. Change in the meat industry comes with associated damages (inflation, animal endangerment), but these changes were necessary due to environmental growth and the Earth's demand for product to feed its ci

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)

One method of meat production uses the concept of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO). This method concentrates on mass space conservation and having the most animals per area of land owned. CAFOs work by species of animal, how many individual animals are present, and how waste or pollution from each enter the water supply. All major meat industries (beef, lamb, poultry...) use CAFOs.

There are pros and cons in using CAFO farming. Job opportunities are aplenty, costs are lowered for consumers, and it is possible for farmers to have more than one species in one farm separated by pens. However, CAFOs cause a lot of pollutants and are widely considered to be torturous/dangerous for the animals they raise. Conditions inside them are unfavorable and can lead to issues with the animal's health.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Confined-animal-feeding-operation.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Free-range 

You may hear these words a lot in the grocery store, or see them on certain animal products. essentially is the opposite of a CAFO; animals are allowed to roam and graze whenever; there are no pens, fences, or gates, and they are permitted to go wherever at any time. Animals in environments are happier and healthier (with much fewer antibiotics in their systems!), but it's an expensive product to buy and the waste on a farm is much less controlled.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Free_Range_Hens_-_geograph.org.uk_-_342791.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Free_Range_Hens_-_geograph.org.uk_-_342791.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Overgrazing

Soil erodes and vegetation is lost when animals (or other species) consume land and grass resources at a rate faster than they're able to grow back. can lead to , which occurs in dry areas with low precipitation and depleted water supplies. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Desertification_Control_Project%2C_Ningxia_China_-_Planet_Labs_satellite_image.jpg/800px-Desertification_Control_Project%2C_Ningxia_China_-_Planet_Labs_satellite_image.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Meat production is an incredibly important economic stronghold in countries like Brazil, the United States, and China. Meat production has only increased, but there is research suggesting to reduce meat consumption. One reason is for a healthier diet and consuming less meat as humans can lead to reduced , , and nitrogen based gases.  Also, reducing meat consumption will help conserve water and decrease the use of antibiotics used to help animals grow faster.

🎥 Watch: AP Environmental Science - Agricultural Practices III

Key Terms to Review (7)

Carbon Dioxide

: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a colorless gas produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. It is one of the primary greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)

: CAFOs are large-scale industrial agricultural facilities where a high number of animals, such as cows or chickens, are confined in small spaces. These operations aim to maximize production efficiency but often result in environmental and animal welfare concerns.

Desertification

: Desertification refers to the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture practices.

Free-range

: Free-range refers to a farming method where animals have access to outdoor areas for grazing or roaming instead of being confined indoors. This practice allows animals more freedom of movement and natural behaviors.

Methane

: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) that is released into the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. It has a much higher warming potential than carbon dioxide, although its atmospheric concentration is lower.

Nitrogen-based gases

: Nitrogen-based gases refer to a group of gases that contain nitrogen as their primary component. These gases play a crucial role in various natural and human-made processes, including the nitrogen cycle and air pollution.

Overgrazing

: Overgrazing occurs when too many animals graze on a particular area of land, depleting the vegetation faster than it can naturally regenerate. This leads to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and degradation of the ecosystem.

5.7 Meat Production Methods

2 min readjanuary 4, 2023

Jenni MacLean

Jenni MacLean

Jenni MacLean

Jenni MacLean

Reasons for Change

Livestock meat farming or production has changed significantly over the years. With increased populations and more demand, agriculture has begun to need much larger supplies of meat to ship out and provide. Shifts in the industry have resulted in more, smaller, and more dangerous feeding operations to produce an excess of meat versus older, more traditional, smaller and family-owned farming businesses. Change in the meat industry comes with associated damages (inflation, animal endangerment), but these changes were necessary due to environmental growth and the Earth's demand for product to feed its ci

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)

One method of meat production uses the concept of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO). This method concentrates on mass space conservation and having the most animals per area of land owned. CAFOs work by species of animal, how many individual animals are present, and how waste or pollution from each enter the water supply. All major meat industries (beef, lamb, poultry...) use CAFOs.

There are pros and cons in using CAFO farming. Job opportunities are aplenty, costs are lowered for consumers, and it is possible for farmers to have more than one species in one farm separated by pens. However, CAFOs cause a lot of pollutants and are widely considered to be torturous/dangerous for the animals they raise. Conditions inside them are unfavorable and can lead to issues with the animal's health.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Confined-animal-feeding-operation.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Free-range 

You may hear these words a lot in the grocery store, or see them on certain animal products. essentially is the opposite of a CAFO; animals are allowed to roam and graze whenever; there are no pens, fences, or gates, and they are permitted to go wherever at any time. Animals in environments are happier and healthier (with much fewer antibiotics in their systems!), but it's an expensive product to buy and the waste on a farm is much less controlled.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Free_Range_Hens_-_geograph.org.uk_-_342791.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Free_Range_Hens_-_geograph.org.uk_-_342791.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Overgrazing

Soil erodes and vegetation is lost when animals (or other species) consume land and grass resources at a rate faster than they're able to grow back. can lead to , which occurs in dry areas with low precipitation and depleted water supplies. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Desertification_Control_Project%2C_Ningxia_China_-_Planet_Labs_satellite_image.jpg/800px-Desertification_Control_Project%2C_Ningxia_China_-_Planet_Labs_satellite_image.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Meat production is an incredibly important economic stronghold in countries like Brazil, the United States, and China. Meat production has only increased, but there is research suggesting to reduce meat consumption. One reason is for a healthier diet and consuming less meat as humans can lead to reduced , , and nitrogen based gases.  Also, reducing meat consumption will help conserve water and decrease the use of antibiotics used to help animals grow faster.

🎥 Watch: AP Environmental Science - Agricultural Practices III

Key Terms to Review (7)

Carbon Dioxide

: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a colorless gas produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. It is one of the primary greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)

: CAFOs are large-scale industrial agricultural facilities where a high number of animals, such as cows or chickens, are confined in small spaces. These operations aim to maximize production efficiency but often result in environmental and animal welfare concerns.

Desertification

: Desertification refers to the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture practices.

Free-range

: Free-range refers to a farming method where animals have access to outdoor areas for grazing or roaming instead of being confined indoors. This practice allows animals more freedom of movement and natural behaviors.

Methane

: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) that is released into the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. It has a much higher warming potential than carbon dioxide, although its atmospheric concentration is lower.

Nitrogen-based gases

: Nitrogen-based gases refer to a group of gases that contain nitrogen as their primary component. These gases play a crucial role in various natural and human-made processes, including the nitrogen cycle and air pollution.

Overgrazing

: Overgrazing occurs when too many animals graze on a particular area of land, depleting the vegetation faster than it can naturally regenerate. This leads to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and degradation of the ecosystem.


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.