Changes in Livestock Number in the Bełchatow Industrial Region in Initial Phase of Industrialization

The article contains a comparative analysis of the level and structure of livestock in the Bełchatów Industrial Region in the years 1970 and 1982. The object of analysis are particular kinds of animals: cattle, hogs, sheep, horses and total number of animals countend according to te number of big animals in the private agricultural sector. The analysis has been performed in a spatial approach, j.e. according to rural administrative corrmunes for the entire analyzed area and according to rural units in the central zone of the Bełchatów Industrial Region. Changes in the number of particular kinds of livestock have been correlated with corresponding changes in factors exerting their influence on anirnal production such as: fodder potential, labour resources, pricing system, equipment of farms with tractive force. The performed analysis has revealed that trends of changes in particular kinds of animals in their spatial lay-out are characterized by a considerable differentiation of the hinter land of the fuel-power combine encompassing the area of rural communes of Kleszczów, Kamieńsk and Kluki, which re cord growing extensiveness of agricultural production. It has found its reflection, first of all, in decreased total number of livestock accompanied by an increase in sheep breeding and in the shrinking of livestock production in favour increased crops production. On the other hand, the area adjoining the town ot Bełchatów and the external zone of the Bełchatów Industrial Region are characterized by growing intensification of agricultural production.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 dofinansowane zostało ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej nauk