Modern farming techniques

• What are the abilities of free range chickens?

  • They can move around as much as they want to
  • although they’re provided with food, they can forage for their own food (eg- insects)
• What are the problems with free range animals (eg-chickens)?

  • a lot of biomass the animals eat is being used in respiration, providing energy for movement
  • the animals are outdoor where it’s cold so energy is needed to keep their body temperature constant
• What is the consequence of the issues outlined with free range animals?

  Less biomass available for the animals to grow and produce materials (eg- eggs)
• What are some free range animals that have the same problems with biomass?

  Cows, sheep, chickens
• What farming method is used by UK farms?

  • Intensive farming
  • factory farming
• What happens in factory farms?

  • Animals are kept inside temperature controlled sheds
  • the space is limited, restricting the animal’s movement
• What is the result of the conditions in factory farms?

  Restricted movement + warm conditions= less biomass wasted compared to free range animals
• What’s a difference between factory farmed chickens and free range chickens?

  Factory farmed chickens are fed a high protein diet and therefore they produce more eggs and grow faster than free range chickens
• What is an advantage of the conditions of intensive farming (efficiency)?

  the efficiency of food production is increased
• What is an advantage of factory farming/ intensive farming (biomass)?

  They’re more efficient as less biomass is wasted by the animals in respiration
• What is an advantage of factory farming/ intensive farming (Food)?

  The food factory farmed animals eat is controlled so farmers can ensure it contains all the nutrients they need for optimum health and food production
• What is an advantage of factory farming/ intensive farming (Chickens)?

  Chicken eggs can be more easily harvested if the chickens are kept indoors
• What is a disadvantage of factory farming/ intensive farming (disease)?

  Because the animals are kept in crowded conditions, infectious diseases can spread more easily
• What is a disadvantage of factory farming/ intensive farming (Resistant bacteria)?

  To prevent disease, factory farm animals are often treated with antibiotics and this may increase the risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria
• What is a disadvantage of factory farming/ intensive farming (stress)?

  crowded conditions may make animals more stressed and more likely to fight
• What are ethical objections to intensive farming?


  Some people think animals should be raised in natural conditions and be able to engage in normal behaviour because this will improve the animal’s welfare (reducing stress)

  Eg- free range chickens forage for insects whereas factory chickens can’t do this