Post by AnimalAvenger on Nov 30, 2009 4:00:30 GMT -5
What are today’s average conditions of a livestock farm? Fresh, grassy, lively fields? Room to frolic and fool around in? Clean, pure air? Unfortunately, this is the distorted image many Americans have of the average farm in the United States. People of other countries often also have the same problem with their own livestock industry.
Then what are the average factory farm conditions? Well, before I begin explaining, let me tell you that it is definitely not pretty. Most animals on the average farm live on factory farms, which can be defined as farms where animals are treated like machines rather than living, breathing creatures. These animals barely have any room to even turn around in, and their cage floors may be feces-caked and urine-soaked. Sure, there are definitely farms that don’t treat their animals as machines, but 95-98 percent of meat and other animal products come from these factory farms.
Birds are one of the most mistreated animals used for human luxuries. One million birds are killed per hour in the United States, and almost all of these do not even receive basic care. According to the Humane Society of the United State’s Veg Guide, “The poultry industry has used selective breeding and growth-promoting antibiotics to produce birds whose bodies ‘are on the verge of structural collapse.’”
Chickens in the egg industry suffer appallingly. Male chicks are only seen as by-products in the meat industry and are often gassed, thrown into the trash, or crushed to death. Ninety-eight percent of America’s egg-laying hens involved in the meat industry are barbarically confined to tiny, wire cages with at least ten other hens in the same cage. After merely two years, these living, breathing beings are sent off to slaughter. In United States of America, there is not a single national law to prevent slaughterers from slaying a conscious chicken. Their throats are usually slit, and then they are dumped into scalding tanks to loosen their feathers.
Chickens are definitely not the only ones mistreated by today’s meat industry. More than one hundred million pigs and piglets are slaughtered in the United States, and most are forced to suffer in the conditions of a factory farm for their entire lives, not having a clue at all what having a somewhat “alright” life entails. Instead, these animals must face a short life in Hell, until they are finally freed by slaughter.
Sows are basically just looked upon as breeding machines to breed new pigs for the pig industry. They are crammed into tiny crates and forced into back-to-back impregnation, until they carry out five or six pregnancies, which is when they are sent out to slaughter. This process begins right after they are weaned.
Meat pigs are also treated rather atrociously. They must bear painful procedures such as castration and tail docking, often without any form of pain killers. They must also face filthy pens, until six months, when they reach their market weight. They are then sent off to slaughter.
Cows are definitely not left out in this factory farm cruelty mess. Thirty-five million American cows are raised for beef, nine million for dairy, and one million calves for veal. Most beef cattle endure castration, dehorning, and branding without any help from anesthesia. For seven months, calves actually have the opportunity to graze, but after that they then must be fattened up with food unnatural to their diets for six months on a feed lot. In about six more months, they are fat enough for slaughter. In all, that is thirteen months, not even half their natural life expectancy.
Milk cows also endure a lifetime of stress and pain. They are given high doses of anti-biotics and hormones and are deemed as useless by the age of two years. Often, they are hooked up to milking machines for most of their lives and are crammed into tiny “cages,” which one may actually consider a prison.
Calves are by-products of the dairy industry. They are taken from their mothers within the first few days of their lives. Females become slaves to the dairy industry while males are slaughtered within the first four months of their minuscule lives. Veal calves are forced into tiny cages they cannot even turn around in much of the time.
Ocean fishing also has its cruel sides. Nets that are several miles long imprison many animals, such as sea turtles, dolphins, and many innocent sea creatures useless to the fishing industry. Fifty percent of these animals who are thrown overboard die. There is also a factory farming world for fish. More than one third of America’s fish endure these fish-factory farms.
A huge and popular myth is that meat and animal products labeled as “organic” or “free-range” is humane and ethical. However, people’s speculations of these popular labels considered “cruelty-free” are a few thousand miles far from the truth.
“Organic” products must not be derived from any animals that have had any sort of drugs or anti-biotics in their lifetimes. Even if the animal became sick, it couldn’t receive medicine if it is sold as organic. This says nothing about whether the animal had to undergo other types of cruelty, such as being crammed in a tiny cage it couldn’t even turn around it, mutilations such as castration and branding, etc.
“Free-range” animals must be given access to the outdoors somehow, but this does not mean the animal has been treated fairly or hasn’t had to suffer crowded conditions.
“Free-roaming” chickens simply haven’t had to be confined to a cage; it says nothing about having outdoor access.
The “hormone-free” chicken label basically means nothing and is just a ploy to gain false confidence in consumers; Hormones in the egg and chicken industries aren’t even approved by the USDA!
One may wonder how they could possibly stop such madness. Aren’t they too little to make such a change? The answer is no; nobody is too little to make a change. As a devoted group of caring, concerned people, we can create a significant change in today’s farm industry. First, we have to affect the profit these factories of animals and the stores that support them gain from products such as cheese and meat. One thing we can do is cut out as many animal products from our diets as possible and spread awareness to others and urge them to do the same. By doing this, less animals will have to be raised in horrendous conditions due to both lack of supply and demand and lack of money resources to raise these animals. The farms will then cut down on how many animals they raise at a time, so fewer animals will be raised altogether. You will, of course, have to research into animal-free nutrition, because such drastic diet switches can lead to nutrition deficiencies if the eater knows not of what they are doing. There are tons upon tons of resources both on the Internet and in books for you to check into from reputable sources.
We also have to ask for change. We can send letters, e-mails, and phone calls to those who mistreat animals. We can also partake in protests against specific wrong-doers and those who support wrong-doers. This may be quite challenging for those who are shy. E-mails are usually ten thousand times easier to send, and they can be completely anonymous. If you are shy, I recommend trying e-mail out, even if you think you cannot do it at first. It’s well worth it.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead
Aside from animal welfare issues, factory farms also have a plethora of human rights issues. For example, factory farm workers often also have to endure the stench and diseases an ill-kept factory farm brews. Working on a factory farm is a highly-laborious job, as one would imagine, and is definitely not free from injury. Meatpacking is also a dangerous job with a high rate of injury. Workers injured on the job may be fired. They also risk their job if they organize a group that strives for proper working conditions. “Illegal” immigrants have an increased hard time working such jobs, because their lack of English language skills may impede them from knowing their rights and said precautions for their specific job. While they may be “illegal” immigrants, they still do not deserve the pain that comes from the farm industry.
SOURCES:
Cruelty info:
Humane Society of the United State’s Veg Guide
Free-range and Organic info:
www.keepantibioticsworking.com/pages/consumers/labels.cfm#organic
www.keepantibioticsworking.com/pages/consumers/labels.cfm#fr
transformation-nc.com/blog/usda-free-range-chicken-eggs/
Workers' rights:
Human Rights Watch’s Workers' Rights Section
RECOMMENDED LINKS:
VegTeens
Vegetarian Nutrition
Non-Veg Foods and Ingredients
Humane Society of the United State’s Factory Farm Section
Meet Your Meat **graphic**
Earthlings **graphic**
Mercy for Animals
GoVeg
PETA2
NON-AMERICAN FACTORY FARM INFORMATION:
May be graphic.
”This Video Will Change Your Life”
”Supermarket Specials—Dispatches”
Compassion in World Farming
Hillside Animal Sanctuary
Humane Slaughter Association
Chickenout
Then what are the average factory farm conditions? Well, before I begin explaining, let me tell you that it is definitely not pretty. Most animals on the average farm live on factory farms, which can be defined as farms where animals are treated like machines rather than living, breathing creatures. These animals barely have any room to even turn around in, and their cage floors may be feces-caked and urine-soaked. Sure, there are definitely farms that don’t treat their animals as machines, but 95-98 percent of meat and other animal products come from these factory farms.
Birds are one of the most mistreated animals used for human luxuries. One million birds are killed per hour in the United States, and almost all of these do not even receive basic care. According to the Humane Society of the United State’s Veg Guide, “The poultry industry has used selective breeding and growth-promoting antibiotics to produce birds whose bodies ‘are on the verge of structural collapse.’”
Chickens in the egg industry suffer appallingly. Male chicks are only seen as by-products in the meat industry and are often gassed, thrown into the trash, or crushed to death. Ninety-eight percent of America’s egg-laying hens involved in the meat industry are barbarically confined to tiny, wire cages with at least ten other hens in the same cage. After merely two years, these living, breathing beings are sent off to slaughter. In United States of America, there is not a single national law to prevent slaughterers from slaying a conscious chicken. Their throats are usually slit, and then they are dumped into scalding tanks to loosen their feathers.
Chickens are definitely not the only ones mistreated by today’s meat industry. More than one hundred million pigs and piglets are slaughtered in the United States, and most are forced to suffer in the conditions of a factory farm for their entire lives, not having a clue at all what having a somewhat “alright” life entails. Instead, these animals must face a short life in Hell, until they are finally freed by slaughter.
Sows are basically just looked upon as breeding machines to breed new pigs for the pig industry. They are crammed into tiny crates and forced into back-to-back impregnation, until they carry out five or six pregnancies, which is when they are sent out to slaughter. This process begins right after they are weaned.
Meat pigs are also treated rather atrociously. They must bear painful procedures such as castration and tail docking, often without any form of pain killers. They must also face filthy pens, until six months, when they reach their market weight. They are then sent off to slaughter.
Cows are definitely not left out in this factory farm cruelty mess. Thirty-five million American cows are raised for beef, nine million for dairy, and one million calves for veal. Most beef cattle endure castration, dehorning, and branding without any help from anesthesia. For seven months, calves actually have the opportunity to graze, but after that they then must be fattened up with food unnatural to their diets for six months on a feed lot. In about six more months, they are fat enough for slaughter. In all, that is thirteen months, not even half their natural life expectancy.
Milk cows also endure a lifetime of stress and pain. They are given high doses of anti-biotics and hormones and are deemed as useless by the age of two years. Often, they are hooked up to milking machines for most of their lives and are crammed into tiny “cages,” which one may actually consider a prison.
Calves are by-products of the dairy industry. They are taken from their mothers within the first few days of their lives. Females become slaves to the dairy industry while males are slaughtered within the first four months of their minuscule lives. Veal calves are forced into tiny cages they cannot even turn around in much of the time.
Ocean fishing also has its cruel sides. Nets that are several miles long imprison many animals, such as sea turtles, dolphins, and many innocent sea creatures useless to the fishing industry. Fifty percent of these animals who are thrown overboard die. There is also a factory farming world for fish. More than one third of America’s fish endure these fish-factory farms.
A huge and popular myth is that meat and animal products labeled as “organic” or “free-range” is humane and ethical. However, people’s speculations of these popular labels considered “cruelty-free” are a few thousand miles far from the truth.
“Organic” products must not be derived from any animals that have had any sort of drugs or anti-biotics in their lifetimes. Even if the animal became sick, it couldn’t receive medicine if it is sold as organic. This says nothing about whether the animal had to undergo other types of cruelty, such as being crammed in a tiny cage it couldn’t even turn around it, mutilations such as castration and branding, etc.
“Free-range” animals must be given access to the outdoors somehow, but this does not mean the animal has been treated fairly or hasn’t had to suffer crowded conditions.
“Free-roaming” chickens simply haven’t had to be confined to a cage; it says nothing about having outdoor access.
The “hormone-free” chicken label basically means nothing and is just a ploy to gain false confidence in consumers; Hormones in the egg and chicken industries aren’t even approved by the USDA!
One may wonder how they could possibly stop such madness. Aren’t they too little to make such a change? The answer is no; nobody is too little to make a change. As a devoted group of caring, concerned people, we can create a significant change in today’s farm industry. First, we have to affect the profit these factories of animals and the stores that support them gain from products such as cheese and meat. One thing we can do is cut out as many animal products from our diets as possible and spread awareness to others and urge them to do the same. By doing this, less animals will have to be raised in horrendous conditions due to both lack of supply and demand and lack of money resources to raise these animals. The farms will then cut down on how many animals they raise at a time, so fewer animals will be raised altogether. You will, of course, have to research into animal-free nutrition, because such drastic diet switches can lead to nutrition deficiencies if the eater knows not of what they are doing. There are tons upon tons of resources both on the Internet and in books for you to check into from reputable sources.
We also have to ask for change. We can send letters, e-mails, and phone calls to those who mistreat animals. We can also partake in protests against specific wrong-doers and those who support wrong-doers. This may be quite challenging for those who are shy. E-mails are usually ten thousand times easier to send, and they can be completely anonymous. If you are shy, I recommend trying e-mail out, even if you think you cannot do it at first. It’s well worth it.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead
Aside from animal welfare issues, factory farms also have a plethora of human rights issues. For example, factory farm workers often also have to endure the stench and diseases an ill-kept factory farm brews. Working on a factory farm is a highly-laborious job, as one would imagine, and is definitely not free from injury. Meatpacking is also a dangerous job with a high rate of injury. Workers injured on the job may be fired. They also risk their job if they organize a group that strives for proper working conditions. “Illegal” immigrants have an increased hard time working such jobs, because their lack of English language skills may impede them from knowing their rights and said precautions for their specific job. While they may be “illegal” immigrants, they still do not deserve the pain that comes from the farm industry.
SOURCES:
Cruelty info:
Humane Society of the United State’s Veg Guide
Free-range and Organic info:
www.keepantibioticsworking.com/pages/consumers/labels.cfm#organic
www.keepantibioticsworking.com/pages/consumers/labels.cfm#fr
transformation-nc.com/blog/usda-free-range-chicken-eggs/
Workers' rights:
Human Rights Watch’s Workers' Rights Section
RECOMMENDED LINKS:
VegTeens
Vegetarian Nutrition
Non-Veg Foods and Ingredients
Humane Society of the United State’s Factory Farm Section
Meet Your Meat **graphic**
Earthlings **graphic**
Mercy for Animals
GoVeg
PETA2
NON-AMERICAN FACTORY FARM INFORMATION:
May be graphic.
”This Video Will Change Your Life”
”Supermarket Specials—Dispatches”
Compassion in World Farming
Hillside Animal Sanctuary
Humane Slaughter Association
Chickenout
