élevage

Élevage is a French term used to describe the breeding and raising of domesticated animals for agricultural production. It covers activities from selective breeding and genetics to day-to-day care, nutrition, housing, health management, and welfare. The aim is to develop and maintain animal populations with desirable traits—such as higher growth rate, milk yield, litter size, or disease resistance—while ensuring productive sustainability and animal well-being.

Practices include selective mating based on phenotypic and genetic criteria, stud management, record keeping, feed formulation, housing design, and biosecurity. Management systems vary widely: intensive or industrial élevage uses controlled housing and often higher stocking densities; extensive or pastoral systems rely on grazing and longer rotation. Aquaculture and domesticated species beyond traditional livestock are also encompassed in some usages.

Historically, élevage has evolved from traditional shepherding and mixed farming to modern animal breeding programs that employ genetics, embryology, and, more recently, genomics and precision farming. In many countries, governance covers animal welfare standards, environmental impact, antibiotic use, and traceability of meat and dairy products.

Ethical considerations and sustainability concerns influence public policy and market demand. Critics point to welfare risks and environmental footprints of intensive systems, while proponents emphasize productivity, rural livelihoods, and food security. The term remains central to discussions of agriculture, food supply chains, and rural development across francophone regions and internationally.