Livestock

=Livestock = Global livestock production remains one of the most important components of the agricultural sector, sustaining human life in a number of important ways. In addition to providing a source of milk and meat, they provide work, as plow animals; fuel and fertilizer, in the form of manure; a source of clothing, such as leather from dried skins and wool from sheep; and as transportation, the domestication of horses and camels have allowed humans to travel long distances. Livestock production ? approximately 1.3 million cows, 1.2 million sheep, and 10 million chickens ? has become the world's largest use of land, with increasing numbers as the global population expands and dietary habits change, particularly in developing countries. Livestock also contributes greatly to the livelihoods of 70 percent of the rural poor. Despite the great benefits, livestock production can place enormous pressures on the land and other natural resources. The main environmental concerns are the conversion of forested land for livestock rangeland and pollution of surface and groundwater by waste from large-scale livestock operations. In addition to conversion of forested land to rangeland, livestock production requires vast amounts of land to raise grain for animal feed. Since agriculture is an energy-intensive industry, particularly in developed countries, emissions from energy and fertilizer use must be considered when calculating the environmental impact of raising cattle and other grain-fed livestock. Livestock can also alter and damage the ecosystem through overgrazing which can lead to soil compaction, depletion and erosion. Grazing animals can also spread invasive species by ingesting native plants and transporting non-native seeds that catch on their hides and bodies. Waste from livestock production must be carefully managed to prevent negative effects on human health, water, and air quality. Animal feed lots produce large volumes of both solid and liquid wastes, in addition to air emissions. Pollutants from animal waste can leech into groundwater where they can contaminate the local source of drinking water. If these wastes reach surface water, they can also contribute to eutrophication. The chemical byproducts of livestock waste, such as ammonia, can become airborne, causing odor and potential respiratory distress for both humans and animals while livestock methane is a significant source of methane in the atmosphere, a greenhouse gas. To help improve management practices that deal with livestock waste, the Environmental Protection Agency released a revised regulation on concentrated animal feeding operations in December of 2002. Among other things, it established performance expectances for manure storage, wastewater management, and land use.   Animal Production and Health

The FAO?s report, ?Livestock?s Long Shadow,? provides an in-depth assessment of the impact the world?s livestock sector has on the environment. For statistics, see ?GLiPHA,? a digital global atlas of livestock density.  International Livestock Research Initiative (ILRI)

Part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, ILRI focuses on animal agriculture. Their website contains research updates and other news on animal farming in the developing world.  Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship (LPES): Got Barnyard Runoff?

In this LPES Small Farms Fact Sheet, Chris Henry and Joe Harner of Kansas State University explain the problems livestock waste can create and the different steps farmers can take to decrease pollution from runoff.  Animal Health

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website on Animal Health contains a wealth of information on the proper treatment of farm animals, animal diseases, and health research.

DATA & MAPS
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> National Agricultural Statistical Service

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The U.S. Department of Agriculture is charged with maintaining statistics on American agricultural production, including livestock, and reports are available by commodity (i.e., cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, or poultry).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">LAWS & TREATIES
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> 2007 Farm Bill

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The official USDA Farm Bill website contains a section on the various proposals, including legislative language, fact sheets, and viewpoints. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> The 20th Century Transformation of U.S. Agriculture and Farm Policy

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">This USDA Economic Research Service Bulletin outlines the economic and policy changes that have taken place during the 20 th century.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">FOR THE CLASSROOM
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> The Economics of the Family Farm

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">This National Council on Economic Education lesson introduces basic agricultural economic knowledge necessary for interpreting what we see in the news. [Grades 9-12] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">There are 51 different lesson plans across six modules in this EPA-supported curriculum, designed to advance principles of environmentally friendly livestock management. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Crop and Livestock Cards

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The Nebraska Farm Bureau's "Ag in the Classroom" program presents a series of fact sheets on various crops, beef and dairy cattle, poultry, sheep, and swine. []