The Meat Guzzler

The Meat Guzzler

The Meat Guzzler


With consumption increasing, tremendously, many Americans take this commodity for granted. Demand is also increasing and the total meat production is predicted to double by 2020. Many industrialized animal production systems are increasing; as a result, the environment isn’t sustainable for livestock production. Leveling off in developed countries, per capita is in demand and is climbing at an alarming rate because of increase in income and population. In global production markets, fifty percent of pork and poultry are industrialized; as well as seventy-five percent of the egg production. The animal operation systems rely on cereal grains and fishmeal, due to these industrialized systems being so large. In the United States, sixty-six percent of grains harvested are devoted to animal feed production. Americans want cost efficient meat, milk and eggs.   In order to provide cost efficiency, industrialized animal production systems were created.
In a global economy, international trade can increase in the amount of products and feed grain that is produced. This production demands feed grains, which affects the amount of grain made available for humans and other animal production systems to consume. When changes occur in industrial systems, there are always going to be consequences for everyone. Soil, water, and atmosphere impact terrestrial ecosystems. Animal wastes frequently exceed absorption levels; which in tern causes pollution. Producing over thirteen-million tons of greenhouse gas methane per year, which is more than transportation produces, stored liquid manure is continuously growing as large animal operations are made into systems. Pollution isn’t going to reduce unless practices are improved and more environmentally sustainable methods of production are created.   Runoff and pollution affect fish stocks where fishmeal plays a large impact in producing livestock feed. Approximately thirty-three percent of wild fish are used for...