Livestock feed is always being tweaked as new facts come out about the importance of specific nutrients for certain animals. Livestock feed is developed for the specific animal’s age, weight, and purpose.
Animal Genetics
Housing and Barns
Scientists are constantly studying how to best treat animals. Understanding how animals prefer to live, socialize, sleep, feed, and exercise are all an important part of livestock production. In the future, scientists and farmers will use technology like sensors, microphones, and video cameras to monitor their livestock for best living conditions.
This robot rancher has a video camera on it and sends a video feed of the cattle for a human rancher to monitor.
Scientists study the behaviour of livestock so they know what makes them happy and healthy.
Genetics
Understanding the genetics of livestock animals helps to breed animals with the best genetics. For example, in dairy cows, milk production can increase if certain breeding lines with strong genetics are used. Another example is in egg production, where farmers can specialize a breed of chickens that has high egg production.
Scientists study the genetics of livestock to make improvements in food production.
Learn about livestock genetics and how we use them in our farming process to grow ideal genetic traits.
Animal Feed
Should you eat like a pig? Yes! Pigs and other farm animals eat a balanced diet of foods that help them grow, just like you should. Scientists are always studying and discovering new and improved feed to help animals grow and produce food for us.
Scientists can improve the foods that animals eat to include more nutrients.
These are some ways balanced diets are good:
- Animals grow and produce food best when they have all of the nutrients and vitamins they need. These nutrients and vitamins can be added to their feed to ensure they get enough.
- Less pollution. When animals are healthy and living comfortably, they convert their food to muscle and fat very efficiently.
- Fewer sick animals. Healthy and strong animals mean that they are less likely to get diseases and illnesses!
Livestock animals need nutrients and vitamins to healthily grow and produce food.