Larger animals will need more land and smaller animals less. Some people let their animals roam free while other keep then in a pen or cage.
Many of today's farming factory fail to do this. I think we should all take a closer look at how they are treated; after all, they are giving up their life for us.
Most new preppers will want to start with the smaller animals and work their way up. The chickens and rabbits have a lot to offer for the urban homesteader. The goats are also a good choice, but need a little more land.
If you live in the country and have enough land, pigs, cows and sheep are also a good choice.
Remember to check local codes before you buy your animals.
Factory farming is a term used for large production of raising livestock in confinement at high stocking density, where a farm operates as a factory — a practice typical in industrial farming by agribusinesses. The main product of this industry is meat, milk and eggs for human consumption.
Confinement at high stocking density is one part of a systematic effort to produce the highest output at the lowest cost by relying oneconomies of scale, modern machinery, biotechnology, and global trade. Confinement at high stocking density requires antibiotics and pesticides to mitigate the spread of disease and pestilence exacerbated by these crowded living conditions. In addition, antibiotics are used to stimulate livestock growth by killing intestinal bacteria. There are differences in the way factory farming techniques are practiced around the world. There is a continuing debate over the benefits and risks of factory farming. The issues include the efficiency of food production; animal welfare; whether it is essential for feeding the growing global human population; the environmental impact and the health risks.
