ENV100H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Drip Irrigation, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, Feedlot

• School: UTSG
• Department: School of Environment
• Course: ENV100H1
• Professor: Barbara Murck

Document Summary

Increased meat consumption has led to feedlot agriculture. Feedlots huge warehouses deliver energy-rich food to animals living at extremely high population densities. Efficiency in the system: minimum amount to raise max amount of meat in short period of time, selective breeding for max weight gain in shortest period of time. Cafo concentrated animal feeding operation: animals may spend entire life in these facilities, usually in north america, some animals may be free range, but finish life in finishing operations, 50% of meat comes from these. Chicken today and 50 years ago do not look alike. Some operations trying to move away from these models: ex. Places where cows are trained to milk themselves: not the norm though. Benefits: faster and greater production of food, use less space. Drawbacks: major sources of water and air pollution. Point source a lot of pollution traced to a small geographic area.