Worldwide land animals

As far as land animals are concerned, the amphibians are of most concern. They are rarefying worldwide for obscure reasons (Kiesecker 2001), depriving Earth of their unique alkaloids (Table 16.2.5.1). 

Without iodine supplements in the form of marine fishmeal or mineral mixtures, the farm animals of most countries worldwide would suffer of iodine deficiency. Germany and most industrially developed countries unconsciously supply farm animals (and in turn the population) with iodine by fertilizing the land with Chile saltpeter, which has a high iodine content. During World War I, the importation of Chile saltpeter to Europe was stopped, and thereafter synthetic nitrogen containing no iodine was produced worldwide. Consequently, iodine deficiencies in both animals and man reap-... 

Approximately 700 mio tonnes of maize were produced worldwide in 2005 on more than 140 mio hectares land [78]. Maize Zea mays), occupies third place in world production as a source of food, forage and processed products for industry. The main producing countries are the USA, China and Brazil, which together account for ca. two-thirds of global production. Maize is most commonly grown for animal feed use, although it is a dietary staple in some areas such as Mexico and other Latin American countries. 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) report entitled Livestock s Long Shadow [11], livestock production is achieved at a substantial environmental cost. On a worldwide basis, it contributes 18 % of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. GHG emissions from animal production include CH4 directly emitted from domestic animals or livestock manures, and N2O emitted from land applied manures and grazed lands [12]. 

Protein Quantity and Quality. There is much current worldwide interest in the value of legumes as major sources of dietary protein because (1) the prices of meat and other animal products are rising rapidly, and (2) certain densely populated developing countries lack sufficient land to raise large numbers of animals for meat. Therefore, certain facts regarding protein quantity and quality of legumes are noteworthy ... 

FROM WHENCE MEAT COMES. Animal agriculture is worldwide. Most of the livestock and poultry, along with 58% of the agricultural land, are found in Asia, Africa, and South America. Yet, North America, Europe, and Oceania, where scientific methods of production are most widely applied, produces 58% of the world s breef and veal, 62% of the milk, 41% of the lamb and mutton, 53% of the wool, 55% of the pork, 60% of the poultry meat, and 48% of the eggs. 

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