The Importance of Livestock for the World

Agriculture is one of the oldest sciences, and one of the most important. Without a firm understanding of agriculture, all humans would struggle to find enough food, shelter, and clothing to survive. The main reason for maintaining our animal agricultural populations is to provide a nutritious and desirable form of food for human consumption. Only about 11% of the world’s land area is suitable for production of foods that can be directly consumed by humans. About 75% of energy intake consumed by ruminants and 30% from nonruminants is from waste materials that cannot be consumed directly by the human population. With world food production already inadequately able to provide balanced diets for people of the world, it is important that we continue to utilize livestock (Fig. 1-1).

Supplies of protein are particularly scarce and costly for the populations of most developing countries. Malnutrition is the world’s number one health problem. The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations indicates that in 2009 there were an estimated 1.02 billion malnourished people in the world. An estimated 36 million people starve to death annually (www.un.org/ecosoc/). As global population continues to rise, the problem of inadequate food supplies will only continue to grow as well. For example, in terms of the global population crisis, in the time it takes you to read this sentence, 24 people will be added to the earth’s population; within an hour, the number will reach 12,000; by the day’s end, the number will be 288,000; and in 48 hours the human population growth will be enough to fill a city the size of San Francisco.

Providing food to meet caloric intake is not enough. Adequate protein is also required for normal body function. Protein is needed for growth, maturation, pregnancy, lactation, and recovery from disease. It has been well established that nutritionally animal proteins are superior to vegetable proteins for humans. The superiority results primarily from the better balance of amino acids in animal products.

The Importance of Livestock in the United States

The United States is the world’s largest exporter of agricultural products. Its agricultural products go to more than 120 countries. In 2008, farm exports were valued at $115 billion. Farmers and ranchers of the United States represented less than 0.1% of the world’s population in 2003 and yet annually produce approximately 22% of the meat, 32% of the fluid milk, 29% of the eggs, and 41% of the poultry products of the world. According to the 2007 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agricultural census, the total value of agricultural products sold from farms in the United States was $297 billion, creating a 48% increase since 2002. The value of the livestock and livestock products themselves that were sold in 2007 was $153 billion. The percentage of livestock products sold from farms in the United States constitutes 51.7% of the total market value of agricultural products sold in 2007.

Livestock producers also create income for the United States and stimulate the economy with the purchase of goods to raise livestock. According to the USDA 2007 agriculture census, producers spent $241 billion on production expenses in 2007, an increase of 39% since 2002. Of those production expenses, $49.1 billion was spent on feed, and $38 billion was spent on the purchase or lease of livestock. Jobs created from agriculture should not be overlooked when evaluating the importance of agriculture to our economy. Approximately one in every six jobs in private employment is related to agriculture. These statistics alone are the reason some economists believe that agriculture is the foundation of our economy (Figs. 1-2 to 1-4).

Animal agriculture is used to stabilize farm incomes by providing other areas of income for farmers and ranchers. It also allows farmers and ranchers to save on shipping costs of bulky feeds by concentrating them into the form of meat through the use of livestock.

Clothing is supplied through agriculture with the production of wool, mohair, and cashmere. Wool markets have been gradually declining in United States for several years now because of the use of synthetic fibers, although there is still an economic market for the product. Leather used in shoes, belts, gloves, and clothes constitutes 5% to 10% of the market value of livestock animals.

By-products are any product produced by animals other than meat. These products contribute significantly to U.S. society. Examples of by-products include organs, fat, bones, and various glands. Examples of products made with by-products include candy, house insulation, gum, sandpaper, wallpaper, ice cream, fertilizers, canned meats, buttons, perfumes, glue, camera film, lanolin, gelatin desserts, marshmallows, dice, piano keys, toothbrushes, cosmetics, rug padding, waxes, soap lubricants, printing ink, candles, and upholstering materials for furniture. By-products are also used as feeds for other animals. Another major use of by-products includes medications, such as insulin, cortisone, epinephrine, thrombin, rennet, heparin, and corticotrophin. Not only do livestock contribute to medications, but they also supply a research model for scientists to study human and animal health (Fig. 1-5).

Livestock are also doing their part to “go green.” Sixty-four percent of the U.S. land mass is used for the production of livestock: 36% for grazing and 28% for production of hay and other forage crops and grain. Livestock help conserve soil and soil fertility in the land on which these livestock feeds are grown. Livestock manure is applied to these areas to replenish nutrients in the soil used by plants for growth (Fig. 1-6). Organic agriculture is becoming a huge part of U.S. agricultural production, and livestock help play a role in conservation of our natural resources.

The traditional use of livestock as a power source has come and gone in U.S. society. However, with continued research into more effective ways to produce power, scientists have discovered the use of methane gas, produced from fecal material, as a power source. Several large feedlots in the United States have built biogas plants. These plants utilize methane gas as a form of energy. Fuel for electricity, cooking, and heating needs of an average U.S. farm could be supplied by the manure from about 40 cows. The cost of energy contributes largely to the average cost of food supplied to grocery stores. This trend is extremely realistic in view of the recent increases in energy costs and jumps in grocery prices in recent history.

Recreation is another benefit that can be attributed to the use of livestock in the United States. There are an estimated 6.9 million horses in the United States, and their owners annually spend an estimated $8.5 billion for feed and tack. This fact not only contributes to their economic importance but also signifies the importance of horses as a recreational hobby. More people attend horse races annually than see minor or major league baseball games or attend automobile races (Fig. 1-7). Horses are not the only animals used as a form of recreation. If you have ever visited a county or state fair, you have seen people enjoying the exhibition of livestock as well.

U.S. Livestock Trends

Table 1-1 lists the 10 leading product production states for several livestock categories.

Many of the trends that exist within the livestock industry are created because of consumer demand for certain products. The U.S. population’s lifestyle and eating habits significantly affect production, processing, and marketing of meat products. Current research also plays a role in the production of U.S. meat products. For instance, consumption of red meat and eggs has declined due to the higher levels of cholesterol and saturated fatty acids in these products. The trend began after research indicated that these nutrients should be limited in the human diet.

Legislation and consumer perspective are important trends in livestock production. Livestock producers are aware of the impact that consumers have on the value of their livestock. Producers sometimes make adjustments to procedures used on farms to allow for a more positive consumer perspective. For example, producers on some dairy farms used to dock the cows’ tails. Docking the tails maintains a cleaner udder and helps prevent personnel from being slapped in the face by a fecal-covered tail during the milking process. However, some consumers felt that this was not a justified reason for docking tails on cows. In response to these concerns, some producers stopped docking the tails and just trimmed the switch (the bush of hair at the end of the tail).

Since the 1980s, we have seen a gradual decline in small farming and ranching operations and an increase in the number of livestock raised each year. This trend is indicative of the gradual conversion to commercial farming operations. Commercial farming operations are larger in scale, which allows lower per unit cost of production. This industry is a business; lower per unit costs of production allow for larger profits.

Research is also a major component of the livestock industry. With an increasing population we must find better, more economical ways to raise livestock in order to continue feeding the world’s population. The two major areas of research in livestock production are reproduction and nutrition. Reproduction and nutrition are the cornerstones of the industry.

Livestock producers are placing emphasis on livestock health. Currently, producers lose 20% of their income due to parasites, toxins, and disease. Only 10% of all livestock producers are currently using effective disease prevention practices. Veterinary technicians must do their part to communicate these losses to their clients (when appropriate). Performing quality client education will help producers to understand these losses and what they can do to prevent them.

The Importance of Veterinary Medicine within the Livestock Industry

The veterinary technician’s role in the livestock industry is to help the veterinarian maintain a safe food supply for the world. Livestock must be healthy in order to undergo the slaughter process. Some livestock diseases and parasites are zoonotic and can be contracted through the consumption of meat. Other livestock diseases could devastate livestock production and leave the world’s population to starve. In fact, some government officials are concerned about biologic welfare attacks that are centered on the destruction of agriculture.

Economically speaking, livestock production profit margins are small. Poor husbandry and health management practices can cause loss of profits and, if prolonged, even bankruptcy. Producers should try to minimize diseases and stress. Prevention of diseases and stress will help reduce poor performance. Veterinary technicians must keep in mind that the large animal industry is a business. The goal of the livestock producer is to produce the most product, of the highest quality, at the lowest cost.

The Dairy Industry

Dairy Housing and Equipment

The most common type of dairy housing used into today’s industry is the free stall barn. Freestyle barns are loose housing systems (Fig. 1-8). The cows are able to move anywhere they wish throughout the pen (Fig. 1-9). These systems typically have resting areas for the cows to lie down. Advantages to free stall barns include cleaner environments, less bedding expense, ease of parlor use, fewer space requirements, fewer teat and udder injuries, and ease of use. Some dairy cattle are housed in dry lots or pastures and are brought inside only for milking in the parlor (Fig. 1-10).

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