Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
• Farm traction could be provided by a biomass powered tractor or cultivator; or, al-
ternatively by draught animals. On larger farms both might be used.
• Most pigs and some chickens would be sited close to farmhouses, residential areas,
dairies, breweries, schools, hospitals, restaurants and other food sources, and fed on
waste. Bought in feed would contain high quantities of waste from rendering plants
and larger scale processing units. The dispersed nature of the pig and poultry in-
dustry would help redistribute these waste nutrients evenly on the land.
• More pig-slaughter would take place during winter, to economize on refrigeration
and more of the produce would be cured, saving in refrigeration. Pigs reared slowly
over an entire year have less need for high quality grains, and their diet can contain
a higher percentage of waste products. Under less scientific feeding they are more
likely to run to fat, which, if Britain were largely self-sufficient in food, would be
welcomed.
• The slaughter industry would become more localized. Many pigs and poultry
Figure 5. Nitrogen and Nutrient Flows in a Livestock Holding
