CAIE IGCSE Biology 20.1.3 Intensive Livestock Production

Practise evaluating intensive livestock and fish farming through yield, feed, waste, disease and ecosystem effects.

Exam points

state how controlled feeding, housing and breeding can increase livestock output
explain how crowding increases disease or parasite spread and encourages antibiotic use
link waste feed, faeces and high-protein feed to pollution and inefficient energy transfer

[Maximum number: 3]

The dominant grass species in an African grassland ecosystem are star grass and red oat grass.
- Star grass is eaten by antelope species, such as topi and Thomson's gazelle.
- Smaller animals such as mice and grasshoppers feed on red oat grass.
- Topi and Thomson's gazelle are eaten by predators such as cheetahs, lions and serval cats.
- Grasshoppers and mice are eaten by serval cats and tawny eagles.
- Vultures feed on dead mammals.

Fig. 1.1 shows part of the food web for this ecosystem.

Fig. 1.1

Fish such as salmon can be reared intensively in fish farms. They are fed on high protein food made from animals. When eating this food, the fish are feeding as secondary consumers.

Describe the disadvantages of intensive farming, such as salmon farming, for producing human food.

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20.1.3—Advantages and disadvantages question 1