Intensive animal farming

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Intensive animal farming, industrial livestock production, and macro-farms,^[1] also known (particularly by opponents) as factory farming,^[2] is a type of intensive agriculture, specifically an approach to animal husbandry designed to maximize production while minimizing costs.^[3] To achieve this, agribusinesses keep livestock such as cattle, poultry, and fish at high stocking densities, at large scale, and using modern machinery, biotechnology, and global trade.^{[4][5][6][7][8]} The main products of this industry are meat, milk and eggs for human consumption.^[9] There are issues regarding whether intensive animal farming is sustainable in the social long-run given its costs in resources.^[10] Analysts also raise issues about its ethics.^[11]

There is a continuing debate over the benefits, risks and ethics of intensive animal farming. The issues include the efficiency of food production, animal welfare, health risks and the environmental impact (e.g. agricultural pollution and climate change).^[12][13][14] Intensive animal farming is more controversial than local farming and meat consumption in general.^[15][16]