What Does The Future Look Like For Cattle Farming? Born Free's Great Debate for KS4

Wildlife and Farming: What does the future look like for cattle farming?

Demand for beef and dairy products continues to rise around the world. Yet with 39% of Earth’s habitable land already used for livestock farming, and some farming methods causing damage to habitats, water courses and the climate, can we continue to farm cattle in the same way, or do we need to reduce our consumption?

Born Free’s Great Debate aims to provide teachers with the tools to engage their students in meaningful debates about key wildlife or environmental topics.

Students will not only gain knowledge about the debate topic, but also skills that will help them to research, frame and deliver an argument. Armed with these skills, young people are more equipped to take action such as reducing their impact on biodiversity and the environment, by making simple lifestyle changes, and encouraging others to follow.

Lesson one – Land Conversion & Deforestation
Animal agriculture has changed over time, but what impact does this have on wild habitats?

Lesson two – Pollution & Climate Change
Identify some of the environmental costs of intensive cattle farming.

Lesson three – Biodiversity Loss
Understand the effect that intensive cattle farms can have on biodiversity and that different farming techniques can have different impacts.

Lesson four – Holding the Debate
Participate, listen and learn through a formal debate.

Lesson five – Action Planning
Identify calls to action for a campaign and make a plan to bring about local change.

There is also the opportunity to extend this study and look more closely into animal welfare and water usage on cattle farms.