Animal Ag Water Use Overview
KEY POINTS – Animal Ag Water Use Overview 1. Consumption, not withdrawal, is the key measure of water use. 2. Animal agriculture accounts for about 40% of total U.S. water consumption. 3. An estimated 38% of total water consumption is attributed to crops specifically used for animal feed; direct uses for livestock account for ~2%. […]
Poultry Welfare Regulations
Are there federal laws that address the treatment of poultry on factory farms? Other than the small percentage of animals raised for organic certification, there are no federal laws or regulations that address the treatment of poultry or any other animals raised for food while they are on the farm.[1,2] Wagman, B.A. et al. (2019) […]
Slaughter & Processing Worker Demographic Segments
How reliable are the figures from the Census Bureau and BLS? The figures on worker demographics from the Census Bureau and the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) should generally be considered baseline figures only. There are significant challenges in determining citizenship status, country of birth, race, gender, and ethnicity of U.S. workers, particularly in the […]
Animal Welfare Act
What is the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)? The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is a federal law that regulates the treatment of certain animals used in research, teaching, testing, exhibition, transport, or under the care of animal dealers.[1] The law requires that the USDA enact standards “to govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of […]
Livestock Death Before Slaughter
How many pigs die or are killed prior to slaughter? In 2023, pig deaths prior to slaughter totaled totaled ~40.5 million killed or dying (and not slaughtered for human meat consumption). In 2024, pig deaths totaled ~41.2 million.[1-7] The total death rate prior to slaughter is ~23% for each year. The pre-wean mortality rate of piglets […]
Twenty-Eight Hour Law
What is the Twenty-Eight Hour Law This federal law addresses the transportation of animals across state lines within the U.S. Originally enacted in 1873 to protect cattle that were shipped in rail cars, it was codified in Title 49 of the U.S. Code which is dedicated to transportation and generally requires that animals transported by […]
Pig Factory Farm Sizes
4 KEY POINTS – Pig Factory Farm Sizes 1. A typical pig farm sells ~54,000 pigs in a year, maintaining an inventory of ~32,000 pigs. 2. A typical pig finishing house or shed is about 20,000 square feet, generally holding 1,000- 2,500 pigs per shed or house. 3. A common size pen is about 190 […]
Water Usage & Scarcity Takeaways
Water Usage & Scarcity Takeaways Takeaways are key points detailed and referenced in the Water Usage & Scarcity section Agricultural Water Consumption Water consumption has more impact than water withdrawals; consumed water is not returned to its original source and is not available for reuse. Agriculture accounts for ~80% of total U.S. water consumption, mostly […]
Infographic – Animal Ag Water Usage
This shows some key figures for animal ag’s consumption of total U.S. water. It breaks down use by crop specifically used for animal feed and livestock production and offers offers a snapshot of how polluted water and scarcity are interconnected. click here to download
Infographic – Agricultural Water Usage
This shows some key figures for agricultural water usage and animal agriculture in particular. It focuses on water consumption, which is the critical measure of usage since water consumed does not return to its original source. click here to download