Farming techniquesSpec 4.7.5.2
In short
Intensive farming improves the efficiency of food production by restricting energy transfer from food animals to the environment. Limiting the animals' movement and controlling the temperature of their surroundings means they transfer less energy to their surroundings, so more energy from their food is used for growth. Some people have ethical objections, and disease can spread quickly between animals.
The efficiency of food production can be improved by restricting energy transfer from food animals to the environment. This can be done by:
- limiting their movement
- controlling the temperature of their surroundings.
Animals that move less and are kept warm transfer less energy to their surroundings, so more of the energy from their food is used for growth. Some animals are fed high protein foods to increase growth.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| More meat produced from the same amount of food, so food is cheaper | Some people have ethical objections: animals are kept in restricted, unnatural conditions |
| Less land is needed for the number of animals | Costs of heating, buildings and feed |
| Helps meet the demands of a growing population | Disease can spread quickly between animals kept close together |
For 'evaluate', use both columns and then give a conclusion. Link ethical objections to animals' welfare, and benefits to the efficiency of energy transfer.
Written and checked against the AQA GCSE Biology (8461) specification · Updated October 2026