Farming Flashcards
Where are grass-based dairy farms predominantly found in the UK?
How many day farms are in the UK?
West and south west of England, west Wales as they have the best conditions for grassland farming
11,900
Where are sheep farms usually found?
Depends on the sheep but…
Hilly areas - hardy, thick-coated, able-bodied, excellent mothers, adapted to living in harsh conditions
Upland areas - do better on lower, easier terrain
Lowland areas - fast growing with heavier frames
Where are beef farms usually found?
Foothills or upland areas following a similar geographical pattern to sheep
Where are outdoor pig farms usually found?
How many pig farms are in the UK?
Yorkshire and Humber, the East of England and a small area within North-East Scotland
27,956
Where are chicken farms usually found?
What % of chicken production is for meat, laying and then other poultry?
How ,any broiler farms are there and how many egg laying?
Similar to pig farms - Yorkshire and Humber, the East of England and a small area within North-East Scotland
Meat - 64%
Laying - 28%
Other (turkey, duck, geese etc.) - 8%
3,100 Broiler
37,400 Egg
How do cows produce CO2?
The methane the cows produce converts over 10-12 years into CO2. They also get carbon from the soil as they cannot create it themselves with then put back into the soil through their faeces.
How does farming impact the N2O in the environment?
Long living GHG with a global warming potential 300x greater than CO2. The farming sources come from direct soil emissions from farmland fertilization, manure management, aquaculture, and agri-residue burning.
What are the 3 Rs in farming?
Reduce - Refine - Replace
What would happen if there was no agriculture in the Uk?
- Importing animals dead and alive (huge risk)
- Increased food prices
- More housing and building developments (is that sustainable with majoritvly plant-based food)
What is regenerative agriculture?
(future of farming)
Avoid monoculture (single crop), agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, responsible grazing & minimize soil intervention
How if what are the 4 future changes to farming?
- Regenerative agriculture
- Dual purpose animal and genomic testing
- Research dissemination of information and communication
- Reverse the commoditisation and industrialisation of the retail system
What are the types of farms that you can get?
- commercial
- small holders + hobby farmers
- pet farm animals
What is a commercial farm?
Making produce, farming is their primary source of income and principal job. Will spend money when justifiable and for financial return.
- Pedigree/crossbreeds
- Intensive/extensive
- Family/business
What are small holders + hobby farmers?
Farm as a lifestyle;e choice or as a hobby. Their primary income isn’t from the farm. Smaller herds or few animals but are still often very serious. More likely to spend money and can have some emotional attachment to the animals which are often rare or unusual breeds.
What are pet farm animals?
1-2 animals kept on a small holding or a special animal on a commercial unit, treated like a pet and want and expect high quality service. Usually very attached to the animals but are still livestock and all pertinent legislation still applies
What % of the English population lives rurally?
What % of the Uk land is farmed?
Why are rural communities in decline?
17.6%
71%
- poor transport links
- high fuel cost
- lower wages
- poor mobile/broadband
- closure of local services
What are farmers jobs in rural communities?
Employers
Environmental guardians
Food producers
What is a closed flock/herd?
No external introductions, all replacements are home bred
Stock don’t encounter other stock (unless necessary and then massive precaution taken)
Schemes
What are the current trends in farming referring to…
… herd size
… herd numbers
…. production efficiency
…. staffing
…. technology
… knowledge/skills
Increased herd size
Decrease in herd numbers
Production efficiency increasing
Reduced staffing
Increased technology uptake (eg. automated systems in dairy)
Increased knowledge/skills
How does preventative medicine work in farming?
- Proactive not reactive
- Infectious disease surveillance and control (local/national/international)
- Measuring and monitoring herd/flock performance
- Herd health planning
What are the key components of heard health planning?
- Increased understanding of health of livestock on holding, + its effects on production costs + business income
- Increased earlier recognition + identification of illness, links to changes in husbandry practices
- Increased prioritisation of risks to health of livestock through injury, toxins + infections
- Responsible approach to using livestock pharmaceuticals
What is a heard health plan?
A health management system based on periodic visits to the herd by a veterinarian to check the status of a series of identifiable health parameters
