GCSE Biology revision

Farming techniques

Food production (biology only)

AQA 4.1.1.1

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AQA student objectives

Learning pathway

All · Most · Some

ALL 🎯

Identify and describe Biomass Transfer Recap, Free-Range Farming and Its Limitations and Intensive (Factory) Farming Methods in the context of farming techniques.

MOST 🎯🎯

Explain the relationships between Biomass Transfer Recap, Free-Range Farming and Its Limitations and Intensive (Factory) Farming Methods and how they contribute to farming techniques.

SOME 🎯🎯🎯

Apply and analyse knowledge of Biomass Transfer Recap, Free-Range Farming and Its Limitations and Intensive (Factory) Farming Methods to interpret unfamiliar information about farming techniques.

Revision summary

Key knowledge

Read on screen, then print for Cornell-style active revision.

Biomass Transfer Recap

Only around 10% of biomass is transferred from one trophic level to the next, meaning most energy is lost between stages of a food chain.
Much of the biomass absorbed by animals is used in respiration to release energy for movement and, in mammals and birds, to maintain a constant body temperature.
Because so much biomass is lost to respiration, less is available for growth and reproduction, reducing the efficiency of food production.

1. Biomass Transfer RecapAQA

Notes

Only around 10% of biomass is transferred from one trophic level to the next, meaning most energy is lost between stages of a food chain.
Much of the biomass absorbed by animals is used in respiration to release energy for movement and, in mammals and birds, to maintain a constant body temperature.
Because so much biomass is lost to respiration, less is available for growth and reproduction, reducing the efficiency of food production.

Free-Range Farming and Its Limitations

Free-range animals, such as chickens, cows, and sheep, are kept outdoors and are free to move around, which increases the amount of biomass used in respiration.
Outdoor animals in cooler climates must also use energy to maintain a constant body temperature, further reducing the biomass available for growth and egg production.
Because more biomass is wasted in free-range systems, these animals grow more slowly and produce fewer eggs compared to intensively farmed animals.

2. Free-Range Farming and Its LimitationsAQA

Notes

Free-range animals, such as chickens, cows, and sheep, are kept outdoors and are free to move around, which increases the amount of biomass used in respiration.
Outdoor animals in cooler climates must also use energy to maintain a constant body temperature, further reducing the biomass available for growth and egg production.
Because more biomass is wasted in free-range systems, these animals grow more slowly and produce fewer eggs compared to intensively farmed animals.

Intensive (Factory) Farming Methods

Intensive farming, which became widespread in the UK from the 1960s, involves raising animals indoors in temperature-controlled, space-limited sheds.
Restricting movement reduces the amount of biomass used in respiration for movement, making more biomass available for growth and egg production.
Controlling the indoor temperature means animals do not need to use as much energy to maintain their body temperature, further improving efficiency.
Animals in intensive farms are fed a carefully controlled high-protein diet to ensure they receive all the nutrients they need with minimal food waste.

3. Intensive (Factory) Farming MethodsAQA

Notes

Intensive farming, which became widespread in the UK from the 1960s, involves raising animals indoors in temperature-controlled, space-limited sheds.
Restricting movement reduces the amount of biomass used in respiration for movement, making more biomass available for growth and egg production.
Controlling the indoor temperature means animals do not need to use as much energy to maintain their body temperature, further improving efficiency.
Animals in intensive farms are fed a carefully controlled high-protein diet to ensure they receive all the nutrients they need with minimal food waste.

Advantages of Intensive Farming

Intensive farming is more efficient because less biomass is wasted by animals in respiration, meaning more food can be produced from the same amount of feed.
The controlled diet ensures animals receive all necessary nutrients, reducing food waste and promoting faster growth.
In the case of chickens, keeping them indoors makes it easier to harvest eggs, increasing productivity.

4. Advantages of Intensive FarmingAQA

Notes

Intensive farming is more efficient because less biomass is wasted by animals in respiration, meaning more food can be produced from the same amount of feed.
The controlled diet ensures animals receive all necessary nutrients, reducing food waste and promoting faster growth.
In the case of chickens, keeping them indoors makes it easier to harvest eggs, increasing productivity.

Disadvantages of Intensive Farming

Crowded conditions in factory farms allow infectious diseases to spread more easily between animals.
To prevent the spread of disease, animals are often routinely treated with antibiotics, which may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Overcrowded conditions can cause animals to become stressed and more likely to show aggressive behaviours, such as fighting.

5. Disadvantages of Intensive FarmingAQA

Notes

Crowded conditions in factory farms allow infectious diseases to spread more easily between animals.
To prevent the spread of disease, animals are often routinely treated with antibiotics, which may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Overcrowded conditions can cause animals to become stressed and more likely to show aggressive behaviours, such as fighting.

Ethical Objections to Intensive Farming

Many people believe animals should be raised in natural conditions where they can engage in normal behaviours, such as foraging for food.
Preventing natural behaviours, such as free-range chickens foraging for insects, is seen as reducing animal welfare and increasing stress.
Ethical concerns focus on the idea that the welfare of animals should not be sacrificed purely for the sake of increasing food production efficiency.

6. Ethical Objections to Intensive FarmingAQA

Notes

Many people believe animals should be raised in natural conditions where they can engage in normal behaviours, such as foraging for food.
Preventing natural behaviours, such as free-range chickens foraging for insects, is seen as reducing animal welfare and increasing stress.
Ethical concerns focus on the idea that the welfare of animals should not be sacrificed purely for the sake of increasing food production efficiency.

Comparing Intensive and Free-Range Farming

Intensive farming produces food more efficiently but raises significant concerns about animal welfare, disease control, and antibiotic resistance.
Free-range farming supports better animal welfare and natural behaviour but is less efficient as more biomass is lost to respiration for movement and temperature regulation.
When evaluating farming methods, it is important to weigh the benefits of increased food production against the ethical and health-related disadvantages.

7. Comparing Intensive and Free-Range FarmingAQA

Notes

Intensive farming produces food more efficiently but raises significant concerns about animal welfare, disease control, and antibiotic resistance.
Free-range farming supports better animal welfare and natural behaviour but is less efficient as more biomass is lost to respiration for movement and temperature regulation.
When evaluating farming methods, it is important to weigh the benefits of increased food production against the ethical and health-related disadvantages.