Environmental Impacts of The Meat Farming Industry Research

Environmental Impacts of The Meat Farming Industry Research

Summary

Meat is an important meal in the human diet. Different types of commonly consumed meat include pork, beef, mutton, fish, chicken and lamb. Notably, some communities especially from the developing countries rear livestock for food (Schader, et al.). The production of meat in large quantities has become a global concern. The market for meat products is high, which has prompted the increased livestock rearing. over time, livestock is increasing drastically, taking over the habitats for other animals. The production and rearing of these animals have affected the environment negatively and positively. Even though animals bring a balance in the environment, the extreme animal rearing for meat has become unsustainable. Livestock is linked with the excessive greenhouse gas production, more than what transport industry releases. The greenhouse gases form a glass like in the environment which negatively affects climate. The excess livestock consumes a lot of water and feeds. The production of these feeds strains the environment while draining the soil nutrients too. The excessive water drawn for livestock drinking and feeds irrigation also results to water reduction which imbalances the lands. It also affects the aqua animals negatively. The feeds farming and livestock grazing results to deforestation. As interested person in keeping livestock, the study seemed relevant in shedding light on the topic. The excess meat animals result to imbalance whose effects might escalate and make the world inhabitable for humans and other animals. Therefore, it is a pressing issue that should be looked at. In order to reduce the number of livestock, measures such as taking plant proteins, changing to vegetarians must be implemented and followed. The research paper will discuss such recommendations.

Introduction

Meat is one of the meals that cannot be excluded from the human diet. It is acquired from pigs (pork), cattle (beef), poultry, goats and lambs (mutton), and fish, among others. The process of acquiring meat starts with meat farming to slaughter, ending at the consumers’ hands. Animal agriculture, which includes 82 billion land animals, is currently overburdening the environment (Thehumaneleague.org). Meat consumption, as the main reason for livestock rearing is the major cause of excessive livestock rearing. The meat production, majoring on livestock rearing has resulted to the environmental disruption. The research paper will look at the effects of meat farming, and possible solutions.

Background Information

After watching a documentary on the environmental impacts of meat farming, I was interested in uncovering more. As a person interested in livestock keeping, particularly horses, I want to understand what impacts such animals have on the environment. With keeping such animals, I wanted to understand the impacts of the feeds they intake and how to manage the animal’s extensive food and water intake rations.

The Problem of The Study

The environmental impacts resulting from animal rearing meant for meat have caused more irreversible problems which might risk the globe. Livestock is ranked among the highest reasons for other animals’ extinction. It is also the most significant cause of environmental impacts, leading to climate change.

The Objective of the Study

The study aimed at uncovering the antagonistic relation between the environment and livestock. It was interested in uncovering how rearing animals for meat production can negatively impact the environment. Also, the study objected to bringing into light the reasons for those implications and how such loopholes can be filled.

Significance of the Study

The study suggested the areas which need improvement and new guidelines to help produce meat and keep the environment safe. The study also highlighted what the government, consumers, and other organizations need to do to ensure that meat production for consumption is not unsafe for the environment but mutually benefits the consumers and the livestock.

Research Questions

1. What are the impacts of keeping animals to the environment?

2. Animals require a lot of food and water, does raising the foods given to the animals have any impact?

Literature Review

In an attempt to understand the topic, I studied secondary sources. I studied previous studies from other scholars, websites, government reports and articles.

Meat is an important meal in the human diet. It is the primary source of proteins needed to repair and build body tissues. It also provides many other nutrients required for the body, such as iron, vitamins, and fatty acids. Meat farming -the rearing of animals for meat production- is a primary agricultural sector that cannot go unnoticed. The animal agriculture sector has expanded tremendously, creating the need for more land, water, and food. As a result, animal agriculture negatively affects the environment. It results in severe environmental impacts on the air, water, and soil. The environmental impacts resulting from various emissions and resources consumption are associated with the animal's production processes. Converting food to meat in animals is difficult. The foods consumed end in energy and byproducts such as skin and hooves production or manure. With the help of life cycle assessment, all greenhouses’ gases emitted and released to the environment in the animal life cycle can be tracked. Animal farming has been associated with environmental impacts such as global warming, acidification, and the use of resources. Compared to other meat processing cycles, animal farming releases heavier environmental loads. The process results in gases emission such as methane nitrous and carbon dioxide. These gases, mainly released from manure, significantly impact the environment. For instance, ammonia from animal manure contributes to acidification and eutrophication, whereas nitrous oxide contributes to global warming.

Grazing And Land Use

Livestock requires huge lands for grazing. According to “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities”, lamb and mutton, beef, pork, poultry, and farmed fish, a hundred-gram protein production uses the land of approximately 185, 164, 11, 7.1, and 3.7 squared meters, respectively. Grazing requires approximately 26 percent of the earth's dry surface. In addition to that, the animals need large quantities of feed. The production of such vast amounts of feed also requires large land areas. From the article “Thousands Urge Mcdonald's to Follow through on Cutting Antibiotic Use in Its Beef Supply.”, the production of a pound of beef requires seven pounds of meat, approximately for pounds for a pound of pork, and two pounds for a pound of chicken. Feed production requires roughly a third of the total arable land. This land overuse reduces the land quality with time. Overgrazing and feed production result in a decline in land quality. While grazing, the animals remove needed proteins, yet the land hardly gets time to recover that. The continuous feed growing also drains the soil of its essential minerals and nutrients. The excessive products need ample production land, making it hard to give the lands room for recovery. (Schader,32) realized that land overused for either grazing or feed production did not meet the rangeland health standards. Due to overgrazing, erosion is most likely to happen. Erosion is the major cause of soil minerals loss. Grazing and search for farmlands have also contributed to approximately 80 percent deforestation. According to “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities.” (9), 91 percent of deforested lands are used for cattle ranching. Deforestation, soil erosion, and mineral loss on soils create an environmental imbalance resulting in adverse consequences.

Water Use

The increasing freshwater shortage is a global concern. The scarcity will result in water-stressed basins and situations for humans. Animals reared for meat take in a lot of water. According to Eisen and Patrick (37), meat animals and food plants for those animals in the United States take almost one-third of the water consumed. The country draws approximately 37 percent and 42 percent of surface and groundwater, respectively, for irrigation. Even though irrigation of the plants mainly uses water drawn from boreholes and underground sources, a good capacity used for drinking is gotten from the surface. The excessive use of water drawn from the surface distresses the ecosystem. It also affects the communities. This excessive water drawn distresses the water animals such as fish, pushing them to extinction in case of a drought hit. Irrigation is also a primary reason for the increasing water pollution contributing to eutrophication. It also contributes to the dead zones, especially in coastal areas. This is due to excessive water drawing from the water bodies, resulting in dry areas that used to have water. The excess water drawing required for irrigation results in drylands and water pollution, and coral reefs in the water systems start to degrade. The degradation creates an imbalance in those water bodies, distracting the normal water animals’ lives. The drawing of such huge amounts of water is not sustainable, resulting in imbalance.

Notably, livestock also interferes with the replenishment of fresh water. By compacting soil, degrading water courses banks, and lowering water tables, animals affect the normal water flow. The movement of animals interferes with plants and forests. This results in deforestation, which in return results to water runoff.

Biodiversity

Presently, the world is facing a biodiversity threat. Animals are extinction 500 times higher than the background rates found in the fossil records (Thehumaneleague.org). Livestock accounts for 20 percent of all animals. The livestock has greatly impacted the resource sectors (climate, water pollution, deforestation, coastal areas sedimentation, among others). This high number is fighting to survive in limited lands with other animals. For instance, pastoralists invade areas with other animals, pushing them away. As a result, the different habitats have been forced to pre-empt and create room for the livestock. This happens through deforestation, which pushes wild animals away, water reduction, and resource conflict in the existing drylands. Livestock also results in sedimentation of coastal areas, which brings imbalance resulting in threats to biodiversity. From the worldwide fund for nature records, livestock is the leading threat across all biomes and geographical biodiversity factors. Additionally, conservation international identified approximately 40 global biodiversity hotspots that featured exceptional levels of habitat loss and plant endemism. Out of the estimated number, 23 affected hotspots are associated with livestock production (“Thousands Urge Mcdonald's to Follow through on Cutting Antibiotic Use in Its Beef Supply”). In the records of the authoritative world conservation union, threatened species in the world are suffering from a lack of habitat as theirs have been overtaken by livestock.

 Greenhouse Gas Emission

Livestock rearing results in greenhouse gas emissions. Petrovic, et al., (240) indicates that the percentage of gases emitted from animal rearing is higher than gases released from the transport sector. In their study, Walker, and his colleagues found out that livestock and poultry account for approximately 14.5 percent of the emitted anthropogenic greenhouse gases. In a report by FAO, these gases add up to roughly 18 percent. They are estimated to equal carbon dioxide gases that can be released for 100 years. These emissions relate to the production of livestock and meat animals’ feeds and the deforestation gases resulting from livestock production. The release of these gases greatly contributes to climate change. As the gases act like glass, they trap heat in the atmosphere. The gases result in global warming effects. It has a 23 times global warming potential (GWP). This effect results in seasonal change, where places might experience drastic climate changes. The excessive rains, droughts, and other changes resulting from global warming affect people's usual ways of life.

Animal Waste

The huge number of animals produces a lot of waste. Developing and developed nations such as the USA, Greece, Canada, and China have not yet formulated a proper animal waste disposal method. Even though concerns about animal waste disposal are cute, something needs to be done. Animal waste is associated with releasing gases such as nitrate into the environment. According to Eisen and Patrick (25), a good quantity of that waste is in water sources. This results in water pollution. The pollution, which results in significant environmental degradation, also contributes to an imbalance in the waters. The imbalance results in disruption to the water animals. Some aquatic animals can die when disrupted, whereas others can fail to reproduce normally. This imbalance and pollution have negatively impacted the environment.

 Methodology

Research Design: Qualitative Research

While carrying out the research, the study analyzed secondary sources such as articles (“Environmental Effects of the Meat Industry.”), government reports such as FAO’s Report, and local resources. All the chosen resources are closely related to the topic, thus helping answer the research questions. Additionally, I interviewed a reputable livestock officer responsible for ensuring that animals are looked after accordingly and their waste, such as manure, is decomposed or disposed of accordingly.

Inclusion Criteria

The inclusion criteria targeted all the sources which had directly related information on this topic. The study excluded all resources which primarily discussed related issues such as slaughtering effects on the environment since such did not prove much help to this study. The study also excluded ancient sources from ten years ago. It needed to use the current sources, which are factual and up to date.

Research Method: Interview

The interviewed person is an agriculturalist. Due to the confidential vote, the interviewee’s identity remains anonymous. The respondent has written a few articles regarding animal rearing, balancing the animals and environmental conservation, and the impacts of livestock on the environment. Some of the questions given to the interviewee are included in the appendices.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Interview

I decided to use the interview alongside the secondary sources to get first-hand information regarding the topic. The interview helped me get a glimpse of what farmers go through and how they try to manage their livestock from an individual who has directly interacted with them. The interview helped me understand some of the most challenging issues to deal with when maintaining a balance between the environment and animals through the study of body language. With the help of the respondent, I was able to affirm that the number of livestock is high and still projected to rise. With the physical communication, the interviewee could emotionally express his concerns, which helped me evaluate the extreme of the threats.

Even though the interviewee was successful, I might fail to realize where the respondent was answering depending on his thoughts and emotions regarding the issue instead of responding according to the reality on the field. I also realized that the respondent is a vegetarian. His answers might be biased in the direction of despising meat lovers.  

Results and Findings

The study found that livestock contributes to approximately 20 percent of all terrestrial animals. From the “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities”, livestock has pushed away roughly 40 percent of other animals from their habitats. The respondent notes that meat is a typical food produced by different categories from the interview. According to the respondent, livestock can be reared by various groups such as individuals, agencies, government projects, etc. When production time arrives, meat is bought from the farmers by the governments, organizations, schools, supermarkets, and companies, among others.

From the interview, the respondent agreed to the existence of livestock and environment balancing challenge. From the raring of horses, the respondent claimed that feeding and managing manure is difficult. As a person exposed in the agricultural field, the interview agreed that the consumption of food and water is extremely high and unsustainable. From the articles, it is evident that livestock produces a lot of gases in the environment. Most of the greenhouse gases from livestock agriculture are from ruminant enteric fermentation.

(Image)

(Schader,32)

The figure above shows three different parts. The highest parts show the gas emissions, followed by the causes and the impacts. For instance, the released gases, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane gas result from feed crops growing, manure, and slurry, resulting in air pollution, water pollution, and others. 

Conclusion and Recommendations

Conclusion

In all the articles, the consumption of meat at high levels is the primary reason for the excessive livestock rearing resulting in imbalance, unsustainability, and environmental disruption. The high number of livestock has taken the habitats of other animals, forcing them to move away and get to other places. In an attempt to get enough land, people and animals have cleared forests and vegetation resulting in deforestation. Notably, the animals have contributed to drying water surfaces due to stamping and excessive water intake, draining such places.

Recommendations

To prevent the environmental impacts resulting from the meat animals, some guidelines should be adhered to. First, people should try to reduce the amount of meat intake by taking in other proteins. The plant proteins should come in handy. When people start consuming plant proteins such as legumes, the need for meat protein will be lowered, lowering the need for excessive meat production.

The governments should set an environmental tax on meat consumption. The taxes should be applied to the input and output. The input tax used in the production sector should charge the producers for the number of gases emitted from their animals. Rainey argued in favor of the recommendation claiming that the input tax would limit the number of livestock reared. It would also ensure that the farmers are careful about handling their animal feeds and waste products. The output tax should be imposed on the consumers. If buying meat includes a surcharge, the prices will go high. That way, many people will be discouraged from eating meat, which will encourage consumption of vegetables and plant proteins. Even though this strategy might encourage meat importation and discourage local production, the government should also add taxes on the imports. The balance will equalize the farmers producing meat locally and the importers, which will leave no gap. If this guideline is introduced and implemented, the impacts of livestock on the environment will be mitigated.

The governments should introduce public education on farming and safe ways of managing livestock. With such knowledge, farmers will understand the safe ways of keeping livestock without interfering with the environment.

More agricultural officers should be hired. The officers should ensure that farmers rear livestock they can manage. The officers should guide the farmers on ways to manage waste products, feeds and other animal by-products to maintain a good environment.

More people should become vegans. Excessive consumption of meat is the cause of the discussed imbalance. If individuals are taught on the advantages of taking more vegetables instead of meat, the meat excessive consumption will be reduced.  

Works Cited

authors, All, et al. “Animal Agriculture and Climate Change in the US and UK Elite Media: Volume, Responsibilities, Causes and Solutions.” Taylor & Francis, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17524032.2020.1805344.

Eisen, Michael B., and Patrick O. Brown. “Rapid Global Phaseout of Animal Agriculture Has the Potential to Stabilize Greenhouse Gas Levels for 30 Years and Offset 68 Percent of CO2 Emissions This Century.” PLOS Climate, Public Library of Science, https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pclm.0000010.

“Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities.” USDA, https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities.

Protection, World Animal. “Thousands Urge Mcdonald's to Follow through on Cutting Antibiotic Use in Its Beef Supply.” WFMZ.com, 8 Feb. 2022, https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_food_beverages/thousands-urge-mcdonalds-to-follow-through-on-cutting-antibiotic-use-in-its-beef-supply/article_26fe13ad-69f5-53f0-88d9-62f125ca8a80.html.

Rainey, Clint. “This Simple Theory of Behavioral Economics Could Convince Humans to Eat Less Meat.” Fast Company, Fast Company, 8 Feb. 2022, https://www.fastcompany.com/90719783/this-simple-theory-of-behavioral-economics-could-convince-humans-to-eat-less-meat.

Thehumaneleague.org, https://thehumaneleague.org/article/factory-farming-and-the-environment.

Walker, Credit: AFBF/Morgan. “Answering Agriculture's Critics.” American Farm Bureau Federation - The Voice of Agriculture, 8 Feb. 2022, https://www.fb.org/viewpoints/answering-agricultures-critics.

Worth, Maddie. “Environmental Effects of the Meat Industry.” Land health, Landhealth, 22 Apr. 2021, https://www.landhealthinstitute.org/single-post/2020/07/27/Environmental-Effects-of-the-Meat-Industry.

Schader, Christian, et al. "Impacts of feeding less food-competing feedstuffs to livestock on global food system sustainability." Journal of the Royal Society Interface, vol. 12, no. 113, 2015, 20150891. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2015.0891

Petrovic, Zoran, et al. "Meat production and consumption: Environmental consequences." Procedia Food Science, vol. 5, no. 2, 2015, pp. 235-238. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.profoo.2015.09.041