farming practices and production pt.2

Question 1

what does reducing respiratory losses mean

Answer 1

energy is transferred more efficiently

Question 2

what is one way farmers increase the net production of their livestock

Answer 2

controlling the conditions that they live in, so that more of
their energy is used for growth and less is lost through respiration
(and activities that increase the rate of respiration).

Question 3

what are two examples of conditions farmers control of their livestock

Answer 3

• Movement increases the rate of respiration, so animals
may be kept in pens where their movement is restrict ed.

• The pens are often indoors and kept warm, so less
energy is wasted by generating body heat.

Question 4

what does controlling conditions of livestock mean

Answer 4

s that more biomass is produced and more chemical energy can be stored,
increasing net pro duction and the efficiency of energy transfer to humans

Question 5

what are the benefits of controlling livestock conditions

Answer 5

The benefits are that more food can be produced in a shorter space of time, often at lower cost.
However, enhancing net production by keeping animals in pens raises ethical issues.
For example, some people think that the conditions intensively reared animals are kept in
cause the animals pain, distress or restricts their natural behaviour, so it shouldn’t be done.