Why has man been exhausting himself for decades bringing food to the animals he keeps in an enclosure or building?
This photo was taken yesterday morning by my partner when she went to check on our sheep (in the center of the photo). A question keeps nagging at me. Why have humans been exhausting themselves for decades bringing food to the animals they keep in enclosures or buildings? I'm convinced it's better to take the animals where their food is—to the pastures 🌿—and here's why:
1️⃣ Producing animal feed is a considerable undertaking: tilling the soil (in conventional farming), sowing, irrigating, and harvesting 🚜. Then this feed has to be transported to the animals. In contrast, natural pastures are maintained and fertilized by the animals 🐑. They do most of the work.
2️⃣ Producing feed for livestock has a negative impact on the environment. To raise and fatten animals at minimal cost, humans primarily feed them corn and soy. Besides the water consumption required for irrigation, growing corn with chemical inputs leads to soil and groundwater pollution. As for the soy we import from South America, it is the second leading cause of deforestation worldwide.
Conversely, rotational grazing has positive effects on the environment:
✳️ soil fertilization
✳️ preservation of biodiversity
✳️ CO2 storage in the soil
✳️ water infiltration
✳️ and fire prevention.
3️⃣ Animal welfare is unparalleled. In pastures🌿, animals live in nature and are healthy thanks to a healthy and varied diet.
4️⃣ Pasture-based farming has a positive impact on OUR health ❤️. As Pierre Weill explains in his book One Health, animal products (meat, milk, cheese, eggs, etc.) that come from pasture contain a high concentration of omega-3, a pillar of our health.
When we started raising Merino sheep, our motivation was not to create additional income but to utilize the sheep for the SERVICES they provide.
Europe has an overproduction of beef, pork, and poultry, meaning we produce more than we consume. Therefore, we don't need more meat, but rather greater harmony between animal farming and nature. This harmony is essential for producing healthy, nutrient-rich food while respecting animal welfare. What are your thoughts?
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