Introduction
After viewing the documentary "Food Inc." during our Writing, Research, and Technology class, my group consisting of Kaitlyn Bill, Christie Johnson, and myself became overwhelmed with the thought of generating our own research topic. After changing our approach multiple times, we mutually agreed that we were curious as to why average American's, including two members of Kaitlyn's family, choose to put out the money to raise their own livestock. Naturally, we assumed that most did it for the money, but we knew that there had to be a deeper explanation to our biased judgement. As average college students, our main focus during the day is just being able to feed ourselves in general, sometimes paying attention to the health benefits, but we wanted to know what could come out of raising livestock on a few acres of land.
Our main research question:
What are the main factors that make individuals decide to raise/slaughter their own livestock?
Secondary research questions:
1. What do people see as the benefits of producing their own livestock?
2. What made people decide to start raising their own livestock?
3. Do people who raise their own livestock eat what they raise or do they strictly sell the product?
Our main research question:
What are the main factors that make individuals decide to raise/slaughter their own livestock?
Secondary research questions:
1. What do people see as the benefits of producing their own livestock?
2. What made people decide to start raising their own livestock?
3. Do people who raise their own livestock eat what they raise or do they strictly sell the product?
How is raising livestock beneficial? The Documentary
Below this paragraph you will find our final project, a documentary consisting on the evidence that we found in relation to our research. This documentary is comprised of the five different interviews that were conducted with Americans, including young children who raise their own livestock. Also included are a few found facts that correspond to the answers we received, and in which we felt were relevant to our overall research.
Conclusion
As our research came to a close, and our interviews were reviewed, we realized that there were multiple benefits besides the aspect of money when it came to raising your own livestock. Of course, money did play a large role, and each interviewee, adult and children, mentioned the benefit of the income, but they also mentioned that money also had to go into the raising of their product. One of the interviewees mentioned that they raise their livestock for tax purposes. According to Kathy Burns-Millyard, "If you raise animals for profit... you can deduct the expenses associated with keeping your animals." Two of the largest deductions come from veterinarian bills and livestock feed.
On top of money, came the benefit of knowing what was put into their product, everyone mentioning the word "feed", a mixture of multiple proteins and corn, nothing being altered. It was also made aware that those who raise their own livestock gain a sense of responsibility, the two children mentioning it, as when as the older generation stating their want to pass it on to their children in hopes that they can gain the sense of responsibility.
All of the interviewees who raised their own livestock also mentioned that fact that it ran in their family, like a tradition. Growing up on a farm and watching their elder family members take part in the raising, influenced them to do the same, and hope that they could pass in onto the next generation. A clear example being Kaitlyn's father and sister. Her father, Sam, grew up in a family that participated in this trade, and now his daughter, Victoria takes part in raising her own hogs for 4H.
As for the consumption of their products, the majority of the interviewees claimed that their livestock was strictly for sale, but even then they enjoy the meat the get from local farms rather than what they get in the super market. Surprisingly, everyone mentioned that even though some of their meat came from local farmer, or their own livestock, they still bought a portion of their meat from the supermarket, generally chicken. As for the taste, their own livestock had a tendency to be more fresh, they felt better eating meat in which they knew what was put in it, and the meat from local farms/butchers had the tendency to be better cuts.
Overall, we realized that there is more than just money to benefit from when raising your own livestock, but because of our limit of time, we may have missed even more benefits. After running into the struggles of finding people to interview, and ending up completing all five of them at the last minute, it was hard for us to gather our thoughts completely, although we still pulled off our topic well.
On top of money, came the benefit of knowing what was put into their product, everyone mentioning the word "feed", a mixture of multiple proteins and corn, nothing being altered. It was also made aware that those who raise their own livestock gain a sense of responsibility, the two children mentioning it, as when as the older generation stating their want to pass it on to their children in hopes that they can gain the sense of responsibility.
All of the interviewees who raised their own livestock also mentioned that fact that it ran in their family, like a tradition. Growing up on a farm and watching their elder family members take part in the raising, influenced them to do the same, and hope that they could pass in onto the next generation. A clear example being Kaitlyn's father and sister. Her father, Sam, grew up in a family that participated in this trade, and now his daughter, Victoria takes part in raising her own hogs for 4H.
As for the consumption of their products, the majority of the interviewees claimed that their livestock was strictly for sale, but even then they enjoy the meat the get from local farms rather than what they get in the super market. Surprisingly, everyone mentioned that even though some of their meat came from local farmer, or their own livestock, they still bought a portion of their meat from the supermarket, generally chicken. As for the taste, their own livestock had a tendency to be more fresh, they felt better eating meat in which they knew what was put in it, and the meat from local farms/butchers had the tendency to be better cuts.
Overall, we realized that there is more than just money to benefit from when raising your own livestock, but because of our limit of time, we may have missed even more benefits. After running into the struggles of finding people to interview, and ending up completing all five of them at the last minute, it was hard for us to gather our thoughts completely, although we still pulled off our topic well.
Possible Future Research Question
If we had more time, we would have liked to research why people who raise their own livestock still buy from grocery stores when they already have access to meat that they are familiar with. It was surprisingly to find out that although they knew what they were feeding their livestock and where their livestock was coming from, some of the people we interviewed chose to strictly sell their livestock for profit, and eat food from a grocery store that is not as healthy as what they raise themselves.