Farmpedia

Breeding is an important production activity, and its products are varied (meat, milk, eggs, but not only!). Breeding activities require many skills on the part of the breeder, from the care of the animals to the management of his business. Depending on the type of animal raised, the way of raising animals varies enormously (obviously one does not raise a chicken in the same way as a cow).

Animals consume water and food, including a quantity of food edible by humans that varies according to the species. 

Livestock farming produces greenhouse gases. Agriculture is also one of the few sectors capable of reducing its impact on global warming by sequestering part of the carbon emitted in the soil, particularly in grasslands.

This chapter reviews the history of the links between livestock and society, and details the social role of livestock in the world. 

It also focuses on animal protection, because it is a growing concern for citizens, especially the young ones. 

Food, energy, medecine, building materials... Agrosystems are the best way humans know to produce. These ecosystems are transformed to harvest the most of environment.

But balance is necessary. 

Farmers bring it back most often by using inputs (such as fertilizers), but also by looping the cycles (recycling the material to limit losses and waste). 

There are many links between animals and human health : 

from the consomption of animals products in a balanced diet to shared diseases and treatments.

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In this chapter, we will explain what a zoonosis is, by taking some examples, and then we will talk about the issue of the use of antibiotics, which are essential to treat humans, but also animals.