Modern agricultural technologies tend to decouple agriculture from the surrounding natural environment. This they do partly by the creation of man-made environments for domestic animals such as the provision of artificial housing, regulated water and food supplies for livestock man¬aged under industrial-type farming. But even in the case of less intensive modern agriculture, livestock is much protected as a rule from its surrounding natural environment e.g. via vaccinations and veterinary care, improved pastures. Furthermore, for intensively managed livestock in particular, it is possible that none of the livestock food used comes from the local environment. For instance, there may be a heavy reliance on imported grains and food additives. The environmental decoupling phenomenon is most pronounced for poultry and pigs kept in intensive conditions but can also be important for dairy cattle and beef lot cattle.