Intensive animal farming
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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 is a continuing debate over the benefits, risks and ethics of intensive animal farming.[10] The issues include the efficiency of food production, animal welfare, health risks and the environmental impact (e.g. agricultural pollution and climate change).[11][12][13] There are also concerns as to whether intensive animal farming is sustainable in the long-run, given its costs in resources.[14] Intensive animal farming is more controversial than local farming and meat consumption in general.[15][16] Advocates of factory farming claim that factory farming has led to the betterment of housing, nutrition, and disease control over the last twenty years; however, these claims have been debunked.[17] It has been shown that factory farming harms wildlife, the environment,[18] creates health risks,[24] abuses animals,[25][26][27] exploits workers (in particular undocumented workers),[28] and raises very severe ethical issues.[29][30]