Effects of Animal Farming to the Environment

Running head: EFFECTS OF ANIMAL FARMING TO THE ENVIRONMENT. 1
Effect of Animal Farming to the Environment.
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Institution.

Running head: EFFECTS OF ANIMAL FARMING TO THE ENVIRONMENT. 2
Effects of Animal Farming to the Environment
One thing that is for sure is that all humanity has been presented with the most precious
gift, which is the environment. As a result, it has been the desire of each and expert to look into
ways that can help in sustaining it if not so improving the current condition of the environment.
Studies have shown that among many factors that contribute to the environmental problems,
shockingly, animal farming, and to be specific, animal farming is one of the primary contributors
(Berentsen, P. B. M. 2013).
Animal farming brings about the greenhouse gas emission effect. Surprisingly, the
emission produced is more than that statistically create from the transport sector. To be more
specific, it contributes to 18% of the total greenhouse emission. This, in turn, brings about a
significant threat to climate change, which can affect the weather pattern and bring about more
unexpected disasters such us flood and prolonged droughts. Therefore, livestock farming has to
be monitored for the greater good of humanity.
Furthermore, animal farming brings about the aspect of land and water degradation. Land
degradation is brought about by erosion and overgrazing. In some areas, there are no strict
policies that highlight to what extent a land should be used for grazing (Clark, M., & Tilman, D.
2017). When the animals are in motion from one place to another in search for pasture erosion
takes place. On the other hand, animal waste and chemicals, among others, leads to water
pollution. It is also evident that a large amount of water is used in the production of animal feeds
showing that indeed the farming activity brings more harm to our natural habitat (Rojas-
Downing et al, 2017)
Moreover, deforestation is mostly carried out to give more room for the growth of
pasture. Land that was initially full of trees has been cleared in the name of expansion of the

Running head: EFFECTS OF ANIMAL FARMING TO THE ENVIRONMENT. 3
grazing area. Surprisingly, 30% of the entire earth surface has been occupied by animal farming.
On top of this, more land is being cleared to date to accommodate the ever-increasing
productivity in this sector. For example, statistically, the experts show that 70% of the area in the
Amazon rain forest has been converted into grazing land. Truly this form of deforestation is
high, contributing to environmental problems.
Also, acid rain is contributed by the practice of animal farming. The animal feeds contain
a specific gas called Agri-ammonia. The gas, after being produced from the feeds in vapor form
it is broken down into nitric acid and nitrogen gas. This brings about water and soil pollution
where the aquatic life is affected and the plants in the affected area. Acid rain is a tragedy as it
causes stunted growth among plants while it suppress the growth of some. Other than this by the
fact that acid rain reaches the ground, some toxic minerals are formed that affects the increase as
people consume the agricultural products at almost every meal.
Biodiversity has also been at a large scale been a result of livestock farming. It is so
saddening that some of the indigenous species go to extinction at the expense of livestock
farming (Radon et al, 2017). This brought about by the need for more meat consumption by the
ever-increasing population hence causing the creation of more land for planting the animal feeds.
A lot of valuable planets resources are used up in the process. Research by the experts’ shows
that 60% of biodiversity is brought by meat consumption.
Animal waste produced in livestock production contributes a lot to air pollution. As the
animals are kept together in a large factory, the urine and manure produce up to 400 distinct
types of gases into our atmosphere (Durning, A. B., & Brough, H. B. 2011). Can you imagine the
amount of pollution happening in these areas and to make the matter worse many people have
not come to an understanding of the effect brought gradually. These gases include ammonia,