Intensive animal farming, industrial livestock production, and macro-farms,[1] also known (particularly by opponents) as factory farming,[2] is a type of intensive agriculture, specifically an approach to animal husbandry designed to maximize production while minimizing costs.[3] To achieve this, agribusinesses keep livestock such as cattle, poultry, and fish at high stocking densities, at large scale, and using modern machinery, biotechnology, and global trade.[4][5][6][7][8] The main products of this industry are meat, milk and eggs for human consumption.[9] There are issues regarding whether intensive animal farming is sustainable in the social long-run given its costs in resources.[10] Analysts also raise issues about its ethics.[11]
There is a continuing debate over the benefits, risks and ethics of intensive animal farming. The issues include the efficiency of food production, animal welfare, health risks and the environmental impact (e.g. agricultural pollution and climate change).[12][13][14] Intensive animal farming is more controversial than local farming and meat consumption in general.[15][16]
^"The limits in sight for Spanish macro farms". In Spain News. December 16, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
^Lusk, Jayson (September 23, 2016). "Why Industrial Farms Are Good for the Environment". The New York Times. Before "factory farming" became a pejorative, agricultural scholars of the mid-20th century were calling for farmers to do just that -- become more factorylike and businesslike. From that time, farm sizes have risen significantly. It is precisely this large size that is often criticized today in the belief that large farms put profit ahead of soil and animal health.
^"Why Factory Farming Isn't What You Think". Forbes. June 2015.
^Sources discussing no "intensive farming", "intensive agriculture" or "factory farming":
Fraser, David. Animal welfare and the intensification of animal production: An alternative interpretation, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2005. *Turner, Jacky. "History of factory farming" Archived November 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, United Nations: "Fifty years ago in Europe, intensification of animal production was seen as the road to national food security and a better diet ... The intensive systems – called 'factory farms' – were characterised by confinement of the animals at high stocking density, often in barren and unnatural conditions."
Humphrys, John. Why the organic revolution had to happen, The Observer, April 21, 2001: "Nor is a return to 'primitive' farming practices the only alternative to factory farming and highly intensive agriculture."
"Head to head: Intensive farming", BBC News, March 6, 2001: "Here, Green MEP Caroline Lucas takes issue with the intensive farming methods of recent decades ... In the wake of the spread of BSE from the UK to the continent of Europe, the German Government has appointed an Agriculture Minister from the Green Party. She intends to end factory farming in her country. This must be the way forward and we should end industrial agriculture in this country as well."
^Sources discussing "industrial farming", "industrial agriculture" and "factory farming":
"Annex 2. Permitted substances for the production of organic foods", Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: "'Factory' farming refers to industrial management systems that are heavily reliant on veterinary and feed inputs not permitted in organic agriculture.
"Head to head: Intensive farming", BBC News, March 6, 2001: "Here, Green MEP Caroline Lucas takes issue with the intensive farming methods of recent decades ... In the wake of the spread of BSE from the UK to the continent of Africa, the German Government has appointed an Agriculture Minister from the Green Party. She intends to end factory farming in her country. This must be the way forward and we should end industrial agriculture in this country as well."
^Cite error: The named reference Kaufmann was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"EU tackles BSE crisis", BBC News, November 29, 2000.
^"Is factory farming really cheaper?" in New Scientist, Institution of Electrical Engineers, New Science Publications, University of Michigan, 1971, p. 12.
^Nierenberg, Danielle (2005). "Happier Meals: Rethinking the Global Meat Industry". Worldwatch Paper. 121: 5.
^Student, Pace Law. "Research Guides: Student Project: Factory Farming: Environmental Impacts". libraryguides.law.pace.edu. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
^Duram, Leslie A. (2010). Encyclopedia of Organic, Sustainable, and Local Food. ABC-CLIO. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-313-35963-7.
^"Health and Consumer Protection – Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare – Previous outcome of discussions". Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
^"Commissioner points to factory farming as source of contamination". July 28, 2000. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
^"Rebuilding Agriculture – EPA of UK" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2007.
^"New poll shows majority uncomfortable with animal farming despite eating turkeys for Thanksgiving". sentienceinstitute.com. Sentience Institute. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
^"Now is the best time in human history to be alive (unless you're an animal)". vox.com. Vox. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
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