Animal agriculture systems breed and raise livestock for goods such as food and fibers. These systems involve working with animals from birth to death, refining processes to keep the system running smoothly. In this article, we will break down the process of animal agriculture systems and factors that go into smooth and stable production lines.
Early Life
Animal agriculture starts at the very beginning, down to DNA. Animals are selectively bred for desirable traits such as weight, milk or egg production, and resistance to diseases. This selective breeding helps the farmer produce better-quality products and ensures their investment will pay off.
Nutrition and Safety
Nutrition and safety are huge factors in animal agriculture. Shelters like barns are used to keep animals safe from predators and diseases. Animals are also fed and hydrated well to ensure a good product turnout. Types of feed can vary depending on the animal as well as the system in place. In many systems, most of a farm animal’s food comes from grains like corn or soy, and in systems where the animal is allowed to forage outside plants like grass play a role as well. Many farmers also add nutritional supplements and antibiotics to their animals' food to make sure they are getting all the necessary nutrients they need.
Labor
Keeping these systems running requires many skilled workers maintaining farms and their animals. Farmers, veterinarians, and other farm hands work with the animals to make sure the system is running smoothly. With advancements in technology, automated systems are being incorporated into agricultural systems, such as milking and feeding machines. Wearable technology is also being used to monitor animal health and alert the farmers to any dangers.
Product Harvesting
If all the efforts above are successful, the animal is then ready for product harvesting. Cows, sheep, and goats are milked daily, and eggs are harvested from chickens. Livestock and chickens raised for meat production are fattened until they reach market weight. Product harvesting also includes other animal products, such as sheep and alpaca shorn for their fleece. These products then must go through processes like pasteurization, meat packing, egg grading, and more. After they are approved, the products are shipped to businesses like supermarkets or restaurants or can be purchased directly by consumers.
Evolving Systems
From meat, eggs, and dairy products, to wool, leather, and glue, humans use a lot of animal products. These animal agriculture systems are what bring food and other resources to millions of Americans every day, allowing us to live the way we do. These systems continue to evolve, streamlining processes to be as efficient and humane as possible. If you are interested in learning more about different kinds of animal agriculture systems, check out our article “What Kinds of Animal Agriculture Systems Are There?”
Citations
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) — Animal Agriculture and Food Production
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Factory Farming
Electric Solenoid Valves — The Future of Livestock Farming: Automation Trends
Mass.gov — Egg Grading
U.S. Dairy — Why Is Milk Pasteurized? 4 Questions Answered
Folio3 FoodTech — Meat Processing Plant Operations
USDA — Secretary Rollins Takes Action to Streamline U.S. Pork and Poultry Processing