The demand for animal products has increased in the last decades, especially for Poultry and pork. Pork production has increased drastically globally, and also in Uganda. Thirty-one percent of Uganda´s population lives in poverty. Pig production is believed to play a crucial role in poverty alleviation, because of the ability to convert low quality feed into high quality protein together with high reproductive potential. African swine fever (ASF) is a lethal disease of domestic pigs often characterized by haemorrhagic fever and with mortality rates up to 100%. The disease is endemic in most sub-Saharan countries and since 2007 in the Russian Federation and Caucasus area.

Successful broiler production in hot climates requires knowledge of how birds are affected by heat stress. It is important with access to water and good ventilation to facilitate coping with the heat. It may be useful to reduce the consumption of feed during the hottest hours of the days, which together with a few hours of extra light available could improve both productivity and animal welfare. The vision in birds is superior to that of humans and most other mammals. Continuous light and light with low intensity can cause eye injuries, affect the eye development in young chicken negatively, as well as provide increased incidence of foot pad lesions. Access to light affects the production but also the welfare of birds.

Pets like dogs and cats have a considerable importance for humans and research demonstrate a variety of positive economic and social effects in society due to our pet companions. The presences of pets are increasing on a global scale with correlation to economic development in low- and middle income countries. For example dogs have doubled in India over a five year period. The feed industry for dogs and cats is also the fastest growing sector in the food industry and certain pets have a significant animal protein intake which, depending on the choice of resources may provide a high ecological footprint. Examples of environmental effects with distribution and manufacturing of pet food are increased greenhouse gas emissions, waste, use of water and energy.

I Sverige idag är normen att man ska äta kött. Om man blir bortbjuden och är vegetarian, vegan eller något annat som innebär att man inte äter alla sorters djur, förutsätts det vanligen att man som gäst meddelar denna specialkost i förväg på samma sätt som man förväntas informera om eventuella allergier. Många vet inte hur den mat som vi äter blir till, trots att det enligt skolans läroplan ingår vissa grundläggande kunskaper om kost. Man ska veta hur bröd bakas, principen för hur växter planteras och skördas och hur en fläskkotlett ska stekas. Men inte någonstans i grundskolans undervisning, varken på hemkunskapen, naturkunskapen eller i något annat ämne får man veta hur kött blir till.