Farming and Ethics

methods of farming:

animals can be farmed in three different ways: intensive, organic and extensive

Intensive:

an agricultural production system characterized by heavy usage of technologies such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers relative to land area

this system aims to maintain a high stocking rate of livestock from the land available

produce maximum yield from then land available

Extensive:

much smaller amount of produce from a much greater amount of land

much less output relative to the amount of input (when compared to intensive)

less produce created = higher price to consumer

Organic:

this method of farming relies on crop rotation and biological pest control

animals are able to roam freely and there is a constant supply of food

no inorganic materials are used

livestock are able to roam around the farm and graze on foods that are organic.

much higher costs involved and less output = much higher cost to consumer

Green and Blacks

green: commitment to environmental and organic processes

black: high cocoa content

was sold to Cadbury

Caged Hens:

1 hen has approximately 1 A4 piece of paper sized amount of space each

raised to 20 weeks and then spend their life laying eggs

fed a high protein diet enriched with nutrients

many suffer health issues like osteoporosis

encouraged to lay for hours by artificial light

Barn Laid Eggs:

chickens are provided with nesting boxes and perches

9 chickens are kept per 1m2

this means they get 1.775 pieces of A4 paper

chickens are fed high protein foods that are enriched with nutrients

barn hens are not required to see real daylight although some do

Free Range Eggs:

hens must have access to outside area although opening need only be 2m per 1000 birds

the barn can be stocked to 12 hens per m2

may be kept in flocks of up to 16000

birds are frequently de beaked to prevent them attacking each other

hens follow the normal cycle of daylight and night time

The routine given differs in how well it meets the five different welfare needs, such as diet, where it fails to meet necessary expectations as the sows are not given enough food to sustain them and to feed the piglets, as they are receiving around 80g of feed a day, which is less than a tenth of what they should be fed, as well as the feed being given before removing any faeces, meaning that the feed will likely be contaminated and not of high enough quality. They also do not accommodate companionship in any way, as the sows are kept separately in cages, with no time allowed for them to interact with each other or to socialise with people and no form of enrichment. Water is also possibly often withheld for a long period of time, as it is not ensured that they have access to fresh water until 12pm, where it should be a priority to check this first thing in the morning. Their environment is technically large enough, as they do have space separate from other people, however the cages do not accommodate moving around, access to the outside or space to express natural behaviours. Behaviour is documented if seen to be of concern, but the sows will still not be exhibiting their natural behaviours due to their environment. There are hygiene standards being maintained, as they do take time to spot clean the crates, however it does say to do this briefly, with only an hour designated to clean the 150 crates, as well as only poo pickers and scoops being provided, with no form of disinfectant or cleaning solution.