Food Provenance: Reared Meat And Poultry

Question 1

Where and How Meat and Poultry Are Reared

Answer 1

Meat and poultry come from animals raised for human consumption, including cows (beef), pigs (pork), chickens, sheep (lamb), and game animals.

Intensive Farming Methods
• Animals are kept indoors in controlled environments to maximise production.
• High stocking density (many animals in small spaces).
• Uses growth hormones and antibiotics to speed up production and prevent disease.
• Less labour-intensive and lower costs for farmers.

Advantages:
✔ More affordable meat.
✔ High production rate.
✔ Ensures year-round supply.

Disadvantages:
✖ Concerns over animal welfare (small, confined spaces).
✖ High use of antibiotics can affect human health.
✖ Environmental concerns (waste and pollution).

Free-Range Products
• Animals are allowed to roam freely for part of the day.
• Fed natural diets and have better living conditions.
• Higher standards of animal welfare.

Advantages:
✔ Better quality meat (improved flavour and texture).
✔ Healthier animals, less need for antibiotics.
✔ More ethical and sustainable farming.

Disadvantages:
✖ More expensive for consumers.
✖ Requires more space and resources.
✖ Lower production rates than intensive farming.

Rearing of Animals
• Cattle (Beef): Raised in grass-fed or grain-fed systems. Grass-fed beef is seen as healthier.
• Pigs (Pork): Kept in outdoor farms (free-range) or intensive indoor units.
• Sheep (Lamb): Often reared outdoors on grass pastures.
• Poultry (Chicken, Turkey): Farmed intensively or as free-range.

Question 2

Classification of Meat, Poultry, and Game

Answer 2

Meat is categorised into three main types based on the animal source.

1. Red Meat
   • From mammals with high myoglobin levels, giving it a red colour.
   • Examples: Beef, pork, lamb, veal.
   • Nutrients: High in protein, iron, and B vitamins.
2. Poultry
   • Domesticated birds reared for food.
   • Examples: Chicken, turkey, duck.
   • Nutrients: Lean protein, low in fat (especially without skin).
3. Game Meat
   • Wild animals and birds, either hunted or farmed.
   • Examples: Venison (deer), rabbit, pheasant, partridge.
   • Nutrients: Very lean, rich in iron, and lower in fat than farmed meat.