The agricultural sector - livestock - is ubiquitous. In its importance, it is in second place after crop production. The main countries where livestock are distributed play an important role in providing food to the world's population. The main areas of livestock farming include cattle breeding, pig breeding, sheep breeding.
Livestock
Cattle are the most common type of farm animal. The main livestock countries produce the lion's share of all production. The industry provides a huge amount of meat and milk. In addition, it provides industry with raw materials: hides, horns, and more.
Developed countries contribute to the improvement and optimization of livestock production. Modern methods of genetics, breeding and raising livestock of various directions of productivity, management, perfect methods of cultivating grain and fodder crops - all this works to expand the halo of the spread of modern livestock.
The main countries where cattle breeding, pig breeding, and sheep breeding are practiced are the provision of genetic material, technologies for raising animals and processing products to developing countries.
American continent
North America is a leader in cattle breeding. The US agricultural industry has the highest rates in the world in labor productivity. The spread of cattle breeding in the main part of the continent with a temperate climate, contributed to the rapid increase in the number of cattle.
Agriculture in the densely populated northeast of America is more specialized in dairy farming. To the west and south of the Great Lakes, beef cattle are more bred, and pig breeding is developed. The mountain west with huge pastures is a great place for breeding meat breeds of cows and small cattle - sheep.
South America is just made for livestock. Savannahs and subtropical steppes of Argentina and Uruguay bring them to the world meat export markets. These two countries are distinguished by the number of livestock. Cattle in their majority meat production, sheep breeding - meat and wool. Brazil and Mexico are leaders in pig breeding.
Australia, Oceania
Livestock distribution countries are also in Oceania. In New Zealand, dairy farming is very developed . This country is the largest exporter of dairy products.
The plains in western Australia do not receive enough moisture to fully feed cattle. But for sheep breeding these are just ideal conditions. The continent is one of the three world leaders in the number of sheep. She ranks first in the export of wool and lamb.
Europe
The main livestock distribution countries in Europe suffer from limited agricultural land. Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, England have up to 80% of the share of livestock in the agricultural sector.
Mostly dairy and beef cattle are bred. Some countries pay great attention to pig breeding: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands. Sheep are bred in Europe. The leaders are Spain and England.
Crop production in the bulk is intended to satisfy the needs of animal husbandry in feed. That is why most of the fertile land is occupied by fodder crops. Limited areas force livestock breeders to use intensive livestock breeding methods.
Asia
In Asia, the main countries of livestock distribution are concentrated in the monsoon climate zone - the southern and eastern parts of the region and the western regions. Cattle breeding predominates, develops on an extensive basis (by increasing the number of livestock, rather than introducing new technologies).
Non-Muslim countries - Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam - cultivate pig farming. China holds the first place in the world in the number of pigs. Livestock is designed to meet the domestic needs of countries.
Africa
The continent has a special geographical position. Climatic conditions, the presence of huge natural pastures and fertile lands create favorable conditions for any type of agricultural activity. Confident agriculture requires land reclamation.
The main countries where African livestock are distributed are eastern Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The level of animal productivity is low, the livestock does not have good genetic potential. Kenya has pastures suitable for the development of sheep husbandry. With proper organization, this industry may well become the leading one in the country's economy (with an increase in the number of sheep in a few years to 6 million heads).
A livestock grazing system is practiced. Harvesting of feed is not accepted. Cattle and sheep are constantly on pasture. Crop production has nothing to do with animal husbandry and does not provide its feed base.
Livestock breeding in developed countries uses intensive business practices for continued prosperity. This helps them to maintain a leading position in terms of both the number of livestock and the volume of production.
The Earth’s population is growing, and the level of meat consumption is growing along with it. Currently, the global indicator for the export of beef is more than seven million, pork - more than one million, lamb - more than eight million tons.
The main exporters of beef - the most popular type of meat - are Argentina Brazil, Australia, Canada. The main importers are Russia, Japan, Korea, and the USA.