Table of Contents Chapter 1 Farming Moves Indoors 4 Chapter 2 What Is Free-Range Farming 20 Chapter 3 Benefits of Animal Welfare 32 Chapter 4 Challenges of Change 42 Chapter 5 The Future of Free-Range Farming 50 Working as a Rancher 60 Glossary 61 Source Notes 61 Selected Bibliography 62 Further Information 63 Index 64
1 Farming Moves Indoors When most people hear the word farm a certain image often comes to mind A rambling farmhouse stands in the middle of green fields A few cows graze in the pasture while chickens scratch the dirt by a henhouse Pigs doze in a barn or outside in the sunshine Farm animals that are allowed to move around freely and eat what they choose are said to be free-range livestock From the dawn of agriculture until the middle of the last century this was a typical farm setting A small herd of cows could graze on fresh grass and clover Cows thrive on these foods which are inedible to people Cows then provide milk which people can drink Bulls or older cows may be butchered for meat After a few months in one pasture the farmer would typically move the cows to another pasture Then the pigs took over the first field They turned up the soil with their strong snouts revealing a feast of roots and insects Pigs are omnivores so they enjoy many foods Pigs can even eat cow dung Then chickens went into the field finding insects to eat in the turned-up Many people imagine farms as places where animals are free to roam 4
Free-Range Farming
What exactly does "free-range" mean, and why are so many people buying free-range eggs and meat?
About This Book
By: Trina Mickelson
Illustrated by:
Published by: Lerner Publications an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group
