Global & U.S. Animal Production

Flashcards covering global and U.S. animal production, livestock productivity trends, population stats, and agriculture metrics.

When did animal domestication historically occur?

Approximately $33,000 - 11,000$ years ago.

At peak usage, how many equine were estimated to be used for farm and transportation in the United States?

An estimated $25\text{ million}$ equine.

What is the estimated annual revenue generated by animal-derived fertilizers?

Approximately \text{\\$1 billion} in annual revenue.

What proportion of global meat and milk is produced by the $32\%$ of ruminants living in developed countries?

Roughly $\frac{2}{3}$ of the world's meat and $\frac{4}{5}$ of the world's milk.

According to UN projections, what is the expected global population by mid-$2030$, mid-$2050$, and $2100$?

$8.6\text{ billion}$ by mid-$2030$, $9.8\text{ billion}$ by mid-$2050$, and $11.2\text{ billion}$ by $2100$.

What relationship exists between human population growth and arable land?

There is an inverse relationship between population growth and arable land.

What percentage of the economically active population in the United States is involved in agriculture?

$$1\%$$

What percentage of the economically active population in Kenya is involved in agriculture?

$$70\%$$

What percentage of the global population does the United States account for according to Worldmeter (2026)?

Roughly $4.2\%$ of the global population.

How much did the average finishing liveweight of beef cattle change between $1925$ and $2016$ in the U.S.?

It increased by $+42\%$, moving from $955\,lb$ to $1,365\,lb$.

How much did the milk marketed per breeding female dairy cow increase between $1925$ and $2016$ in the U.S.?

It increased by $+443\%$, moving from $4,189\,lb$ to $22,774\,lb$.

By how much did U.S. agricultural production increase in the $30\text{ years}$ following World War II?

Production increased $5\text{-fold}$.

What three main factors determine how much animal protein a population consumes?

Economics, preference (e.g., Vegan, Vegetarian, Carnivore), and religion.

According to Table 1.6, what percentages of calories and protein come from animal products versus cereals?

Animal products contribute $16\%$ of calories and $37\%$ of protein, whereas cereals contribute $50\%$ of calories and $45\%$ of protein.

What proportion of global agricultural land is pasture or rangeland, and how much of it is unsuitable for row crops?

About $\frac{2}{3}$ is pasture or rangeland, and $60\%$ of this land is not suitable for row crops.

What percentage of total U.S. land is used for grazing, and what percentage of the cattle population does it support?

$44\%$ of total U.S. land is used for grazing, which supports $40\%$ of the cattle population.

How is livestock efficiency defined, and what key factors contribute to increasing it?

Efficiency is defined as the ability to convert feed to product. It is increased through research, nutrition, management, reproduction, and genetics.