History of Factory Farming
– Facts & Figures
Origins of Animal Husbandry
About 10,000 years ago, humans began domesticating animals in the Fertile Crescent, starting with sheep and goats, followed later by cattle and pigs. Early animal husbandry was small-scale and self-sufficient.
Industrialization of Agriculture
With the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, agriculture changed dramatically:
- Mechanization and new technologies increased productivity.
- Animal breeding programs were introduced to optimize performance.
The United States pioneered the first chicken “factories” in the 1920s, with controlled indoor environments.
The Rise of Factory Farming (20th Century)
The term “factory farming” became common in the 1960s. In Europe, intensive farming gained momentum after World War II due to food shortages, economic growth, and technological advancement. The goal: maximum output at minimal cost and space.
Example:
1950: One pig in Germany produced ~90 kg of meat in 12 months
Today: A pig reaches ~120 kg in just 5–6 months
Explosion in Animal Numbers
Global livestock numbers (as of 2020, FAO):
- Over 1.6 billion cattle
- Over 1 billion pigs
- Over 25 billion chickens
Germany (2023):
- ~22 million pigs
- ~12 million cattle
- ~160 million chickens
Space Per Animal – A Grim Reality
- Battery hens: Less than 600 cm² per hen – smaller than an A4 sheet
- Fattening pigs: Around 0.75 m² per pig
- Turkeys: Often only 1 m² for 5–6 birds
Technical Characteristics of Modern Factory Farms
- Automated feeding, ventilation, and waste systems
- Animals bred for maximum performance (e.g., dairy cows producing 10,000+ liters/year)
- Routine use of antibiotics → risk of resistance
- Enormous consumption of water, feed, and land
Global Impacts
- Factory farming causes 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions (more than all transport combined)
- Consumes 80% of global soy (mostly as animal feed)
- Contributes to deforestation for pastures and feed production
- Massive manure output → nitrate pollution of groundwater
Timeline – Key Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| ~10,000 BCE | Domestication of animals begins |
| 1920s | First industrial chicken farms in the U.S. |
| 1950s | Rise of industrial livestock farming in Europe |
| 1966 | “Factory farming” enters public discourse in Germany |
| 1990s | Globalization boosts worldwide meat production |
| 2007 | EU bans conventional battery cages (effective 2012) |
| 2022 | Germany initiates national animal welfare labeling |