Fur Farming
Many centuries ago fur was the only fabric which protected people from snow and wind. Years have passed, and fur has now become a luxury good which is highly valued. Breeding and raising animals for their fur is still popular. In addition to beauty and style, fur provides warmth, which used to make coats irreplaceable in regions with the cold climate. Nevertheless, as the population rises, the number of killed animals is enormous. So the necessity of fur farming has been called into question. Today fur substitutes and synthetic materials have entered the fashion world and brought society to a new era, where artificial fabrics can be just as warm and stylish. Many factories now produce waterproof, warm and comfortable hats, jackets and pants using synthetic fillings. These outfits are designed for alpinists, fishermen and people that live or work in places like Siberia where the temperature can reach -71o C ( "????? ? ?????? [Life in Siberia]" 3 ). Thus, since synthetics can be warm enough to protect people from icy weather, there is no need to slaughter animals for their fur.
First of all, the market of fur trade is stable, hence making fur farming a very profitable business. According to the International Fur Trade Organization, the total number of fur farms in Russia is 150, whereas in North America it is 1,135, and in the European Union - 6,000 ( Socio-Economic Impact of International Fur Farming 9 ). These statistics illustrate that pelt production is rising, so the industry tends to consolidate. According to the United States International Trade Commission, the dominant fur skin producers nowadays are Denmark, Russia, the USA, China, Finland, and the Netherlands ( Steller 23 ). Only in the USA fur skin exports brought to the American budget ...