Written By Annie Yao

As Threatened Species Day approaches, the spotlight on the natural world has intensified, sparking discussions about eco-friendliness and animal preservation. Alongside these important dialogues, there's a growing consideration of how individuals, particularly farmers, can actively contribute to animal welfare in their daily activities. From the dawn of agricultural production, farmers have been tasked with striking a delicate balance between environmental stewardship and meeting human dietary needs. Farm animals, unlike threatened species, play an integral role in our ecosystem, offering us more than just financial gains; they provide us with love and companionship. Therefore, it's crucial for farmers to excel in the art of caring for their farm animals.

1. Understanding Your Farm Animals

For many young farmers, raising farm animals can be a perplexing endeavor. Questions about feeding, the rationale behind raising these animals, and achieving financial viability often arise. However, overlooking proper animal care and health can lead to larger and potentially devastating issues down the line. To put this into perspective, as of January 1, 2023, Earth is home to 7,942,645,086 people, and our numbers continue to grow. This underscores the importance of sustainable agriculture and responsible animal husbandry. Farming, which is relatively new in the grand scheme of human history, has evolved to become essential for our survival. Agricultural education encompasses the study of agriculture, natural resources, food production, and related subjects, highlighting its fundamental role in sustaining the human population.

2. Creating Optimal Living Conditions

Whether farmers raise animals for profit or companionship, it is imperative to provide optimal living conditions for farm animals to ensure their health and well-being. Faunalytics emphasizes that sustainable agricultural practices, including maintaining favorable living conditions for animals, are crucial for sustaining life on our planet. According to Farm Health Online.com, sustainable livestock production principles include providing animals with outdoor access, shelter, adequate space, lighting, and protection from extreme weather conditions. While these practices allow animals to move freely and behave naturally, they also entail careful consideration of disease control, predation risks, pest management, and weather-related challenges.

Farm animals are essential components of our ecosystem, and it is incumbent upon farmers to prioritize their welfare and nutrition. By understanding and implementing proper care practices, farmers can play an active role in animal protection and contribute to the harmonious coexistence of humans and the natural world.

Reference List:

Martyn, M. (2023, August 17). Animal Cruelty In Factory Farm Statistics-Dreadful.https://www.scribbr.com/citation/generator/folders/4MKhPGKTo0lK5WhrigJ7C5/lists/

W. (2023, April 18). Why Agricultural Education is. Important|CropCare.https://cropcareequipment.com/blog/importance-of-agricultural-education/In-Text Citation: (2023)

 Kite, K. (2019, October 2). Farm Animal Welfare: A Review of. Standard Practices And Their Effects. Faunalytics. https://faunalytics.org/farm-animal-welfare-a-review-f-standard-practices-and-theireffects/#:~:text=Efforts%20to%20improve%20animal%20welfare%20involve%20adapting%20the,physical%20health.%20Mental%20health%20is%20just%20as%20crucial.In-Text Citation: (Kite, 2019)

W. (2023, April 18). Why Agricultural Education is Important |  CropCare. CropCare. https://cropcareequipment.com/blog/importance-of-agricultural-education/

In-Text Citation: (2023