Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
an ongoing challenge for animal agriculture. Remedies that do not acceler-
ate the depopulation of these areas and that might also protect the health
and quality of life of the thousands of employees who live near these facili-
ties should be sought.
Impact on communities.
While CAFOs have freed those on traditional farms
from very long hours of labor, they have had a major impact on rural com-
munities. As family farms are replaced by large integrated units (often
not in the same area), populations in rural areas decline; schools, librar-
ies, banks, churches, and other essential services are lost, and communities
shrink or disappear. Some individuals may shift from operating their own
farms to working for the new enterprises (which may or may not improve
their incomes). For many, it is a less-attractive lifestyle in spite of more
regular hours. Others move to cities, again not necessarily considered a
better life.
PlAnt-AnImAl ecosystems
A balanced plant-animal ecosystem is fundamental to food production for, with-
out plants, animals (including humans) could not survive. The many by-products of
crops processed for human consumption provide a significant proportion of the total
feed requirements to support a viable livestock industry. Awareness of the principle
of the symbiosis of plants and animals in providing food for humans is needed for a
full appreciation of the vital role of food animals in society.
f
e e D
r
e s o u r C e s
Feed represents the major cost in animal production. Therefore, a nutritionally
balanced diet fed at a level of intake sufficient for high efficiency of feed utiliza-
tion by the animal is important for all of animal agriculture. More than 2000 feed
products are available for animal feeding. National Academy of Science (NAS)
Feed Composition Tables (2001) containing nutrient composition of each are
updated frequently. New genetically modified varieties of forages and grains hav-
ing increased disease and pest resistance, yields, and other economically valuable
traits continue to become available each year, and other appropriate genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) may be used. In 2008, the European Union and the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration both approved the use of GMO crops as safe
in animal feeds.
Although there is some competition, most plant products fed to animals either are
not edible for humans or are produced in excess of demand for human consumption
in a given location. Because of imperfect systems of distribution and differences
in agricultural productivity, many crops, including corn (maize) and cereal grains
(such as wheat, oats, or barley), oilseeds (such as soybeans), or other foods in surplus
in the United States are in high demand for export for use by humans or in animal
feeds. These feedstuffs include surpluses of cereal grains and other food crops; by-
