Essay Sample on Sustainability in Animal Husbandry

Introduction

In the past decades, the demand for animal products has increased significantly due to the growth of the world's population and an increase in wealth. The increased demand possess a challenge to the sustainability of animal husbandry. Sustainability entails the use of renewable resources judiciously, maintaining productivity and profitability, diversification of food products, consistency in high quality, preserving the biodiversity, and promotion of awareness on animal welfare. The primary challenge facing sustainability in animal husbandry is the challenge that rearing more animals poses to the environment and the increased lack of consideration for animal welfare when animals are reared chiefly for the generation of profit.

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One of the challenges to sustainability in animal rearing is the high amount of waste generated by animals. It is approximated that the amount of waste generated by animals increased annually by 57 tons from 2003 to 2014 ("Growing Pile of Human"). The rate of increase is expected to rise in the future with the current trend of the demand for animal products. Animal waste, specifically fecal matter poses several environmental challenges. The most important is the concern for the implication of animal waste on human health. In developing countries, this is especially important due to the lack of elaborate sanitary practices and the increased likelihood of humans coming into contact with animal waste. To address the challenge, it is essential to devise innovative methods of disposing of animal waste to enable both small-scale and large-scale animal husbandry ventures to meet the global demand for animal products while maintaining public health ("Growing Pile of Human").

For sustainability in animal husbandry, it is essential to increase the awareness of animal farmers on animal welfare. Organizations concerned with the welfare of animals have complained of the increase in inhumane treatment of animals by farmers. Animal activists have condemned the commodification of animals as "resources" for economic growth (Narayanan 179). Although it is impossible not to regard animals reared solely for consumption as resources, it is possible to strike a middle ground regarding which relatively humane animal practices should be adopted. Such practices include improving the living conditions of these animals and adopting slaughtering methods that do not entail the torturing of animals. In essence, farmers should be informed of activities that promote the well-being of animals and to some extent regard animals as beings rather than resources.

Although genetic modification of animals has increased the productivity of the animal husbandry sector, animal activists have pointed out that genetic modification increases the productivity of these animals without the consideration for the implication of the genetic changes on their health. Chicken, which forms the highest number of animals reared, are the most affected by genetic modification. Genetically modified chicken are capable of gaining weight beyond the naturally safe limit. Animal activists have reported that the excessive weight that chicken are made to gain to meet the market's demand for chicken meat causes significant health implications for these animals. It results in lung failures and heart attacks since the animals' bodies are incapable of handling the great weight they are made to gain ("2017 Annual Report 7"). To address this, farmers should adhere to the minimum set standards for caring for chicken. It includes the regulation of the growth of chicken by slowing down weight gain to ensure their body weight is within safe health limits. The challenge that genetic modification poses on the health of animals should be addressed by emphasizing on consideration of the overall impacts of genetic engineering on animals as opposed to focusing solely on their productivity.

For the sustainability of animal husbandry, it is essential to improve the quality and extent of veterinary services provided to animals. Efficient, robust, and healthy animals are one of the features of sustainable animal husbandry; one where both the welfare of animals and quality of the product is not compromised. Adhering to the welfare of animals entails treatment of sick animals as appropriate, for instance, tending to animals with broken bones. Veterinary care ensures that animals are healthy always which fulfills the social responsibility to the animals and consumers since healthy animals imply products that are safe for consumption. Veterinary care provides with the option of regulating the reproduction and breeding of animals. This is beneficial regarding both the welfare of animals and their productivity. For those rearing animals, some veterinary services can be utilized to increase the reproduction rate of animals which would result in increased supply of animal products. Additionally, veterinary care improves the overall safety of animal reproduction. In essence, veterinary care is at the core of the production of healthy, adaptable, and robust animals.

Biodiversity is an option that should be explored to promote sustainability of animal husbandry. Rearing different varieties of animals and cultivating several varieties of crops will create a balance in the consumption and production patterns. It will help regulate the demand for particular livestock as a source of food. Cultivation of crops will increase the supply of food for both humans and livestock. Additionally, certain cultivation techniques will help alleviate the pressure that the rearing of animals puts on land. Such a practice is planting and tending to vegetation cover, primarily where larger animals like cattle are reared. Biodiversity will also establish a balance in the ecosystem. Creating interdependence between different animals and between animals and crops will combat challenges such as pollution. The challenge that the excessive fecal matter from animals poses to the environment, for instance, can be solved by using animal waste as manure for the growing of crops. The crops in return can serve as animal feed. Biodiversity will essentially establish a balance in the ecosystem and create a sustainable interdependence between members of the ecosystem.

Conclusion

For the sustainability of animal husbandry, all practices involved in the rearing of animals should be carefully considered to ensure that they promote the production of healthy, adapted, and robust animals. These practices should fulfill the social responsibility of farmers and corporations both to society and to the animals. Whereas it is important to ensure that there is an adequate supply of healthy and safe foods to human beings, it is also essential to ensure that animals, which are living beings are not merely regarded as "resources." The consideration of the welfare of animals ought to be incorporated into all animal husbandry practices. Science and technology employed for the improvement of productivity of animals should consider the wellbeing of animals when making their developments. In essence, all activities that are undertaken in animal husbandry should promote the economic use of resources to produce affordable, healthy, and quality livestock while improving the quality of life of these animals.

Works Cited

"2017 Annual Report." The Humane Society of The United States | The Humane Society of the United States, www.humanesociety.org/sites/default/files/docs/2017-hsus-annual-report.pdf. Accessed 28 Feb. 2019.

"Growing Pile of Human and Animal Waste Harbors Threats, Opportunities | Research Horizons | Georgia Tech's Research News." Research Horizons | Georgia Tech's Research News |, 27 Nov. 2018, www.rh.gatech.edu/news/614681/growing-pile-human-and-animal-waste-harbors-threats-opportunities. Accessed 28 Feb. 2019.

Narayanan, Yamini. "Where are the Animals in Sustainable Development? Religion and the Case for Ethical Stewardship in Animal Husbandry." Sustainable Development, vol. 24, no. 3, 2016, pp. 172-180.