Factory Farm Research Paper

Working conditions for industrial laborers during the late 19th century were horrible. Factory workers were forced to face long hours, very low wages, no job security, and very poor conditions and no government regulation. On top of the poor conditions because of the low wages many families needed their children to work in order to help the family out. Companies would take advantage of this and hire children at even lower wages and would force them into very dangerous situations because of their size. Factory workers eventually started to form unions to try achieve fair conditions and wages for their work. In 1886 the American federation of labor (AFL) union was formed for skilled laborers and not open to women, immigrants, or blacks by Samuel

All around the world we use factory farming as our main source of packaging and transporting food. But do you know what happens in the factories and farming facilities? This large industrial operation houses animals raised for food. They treat them with hormones and antibiotics to prevent disease and maximize their growth for food output. Then transported to the factories where they are killed if animals and put on a conveyor belt to be processed by workers.

Factory farming is the industrial production of raising animals such as cattle, poultry, swine, and sheep for meat. Many questions and concerns within the field are based on animal treatment and the cleanliness of the factory farm facilities. These questions and concerns are needed to guarantee the safety of both the animals and consumers. The unhealthy living environments combined with excessive antibiotic use in factory farms causes concern in the meat processing industry.

In America sacred cows do not exit, in fact we defend our freedom to choose meat. However, that freedom tears at the very core of who we are as a nation. If America is truly just, how can we explain factory farming? Factory farming is not just intrinsically evil; it is cruel and unusual punishment. Animals are regularly sawed in half and placed in cramped quarters throughout their existence. The media regularly denounces the use of the death penalty but are completely complacent regarding factory farming.

Even though higher yields are met for demand and human consumption, factory farming is cruel to animals due to the fact animals are often subject to harsh living conditions, more susceptible to diseases and injuries and are treated inhumanely during the slaughtering process. Unfortunately, with an increase in human population worldwide, the strain on farmers to meet the demand increases as well. This in turn causes more animals to be subject to this cruelty.

For many Americans, the term “factory farming” conjures up images of mistreated livestock crowded into undersized cages while force fed large amounts of antibiotics and growth hormones. Yet for others, greatly reduced prices on meat and other animal by products, such as eggs and milk, helping to keep costs of food down for their families’, springs to mind. Factory farming has managed to reduce costs of meat, poultry and by products, making it more accessible to our citizens by increasing rate of production and efficiency, while reducing the space utilized to farm livestock. However, the ability to increase production relies heavily on the use of large amounts of growth hormones and antibiotics in livestock,


   The factory farming industry strives to maximize output while minimizing cost, always at the animals’ expense. The big corporations that run most factory farms have found that they can

Many individuals have seen or heard of the videos on the internet of various slaughterhouses across the country as well as the videos of factory farms and how their livestock are raised, along with Rachel Carson’s various books about the dangers of pesticides. Until the 1950’s, farming never used hormones to increase growth pace to achieve meatier animals. Factory farms and the mass production of animals have caused corporations to stop thinking about the quality of their foods, but the quantity and efficiency in which consumers receive it. Factory farm raised animals are produced to become our food and sold in stores, but they do not have to live in such poor, unhealthy conditions or live short lives full of pain. While factory farms are beneficial to the economy, ultimately they are harmful to the environment and the health of people and animals. Therefore we should find alternatives to factory farming.

In the United States, it almost seems like you can’t go far without running into a place that sells some sort of low cost meat. In fact, in the United States you can’t be further than 107 miles away from the Golden Arches of McDonalds (Worley, 2009). With all this meat so available and so affordable, it raises the question how it is possible to produce so much at such a low cost. The way this food is produced at such large quantities for such low cost is a due in part of factory farming. Factory farming has the ability to deliver food to millions and millions of people each year at an astronomical rate, however the way it goes about accomplishing this comes at the expense of the economy, the environment, the ethics of humanity, and the health of the consumer.

Unfortunately for other animals, dairy cows are not the only creatures living on these farms. Chickens, pigs, and male cows also meet an unbearable fate. They do not go through the cycle of pregnancy like the mother cows but are met with all the other same unfavorable conditions. Yes, they too are force fed an unnatural diet, pumped with hormones so that they grow to unnatural and unhealthy sizes, and are physically abused.

Throughout history, new farming methods have popped up to keep up with the food demands of the growing United States population. Such farming methods strived to make food production cheaper and more efficient. Hence, the birth of the modern factory farm. Now, nearly two thirds of U.S. agricultural output is from three percent of its farms (“Factory”). Though factory farms have been very good for the efficiency of food-production, animals in the farms are often victims of mistreatment. By examining these different theories, one can form an educated stance on the economic side of factory farms.

I believe that factory farms should no longer be used to raise animals for consumption. These poor animals live short lives filled with misery and that is no way for any animal to live. The corporation of industrialized farms have made “family farms” virtually non-existent and reduced their numbers heavily. Since output is the main concern with these corporations, they are willing to take out anything that stands in their way. They have no motivation to help their living conditions because business is very

“Recognize meat for what it really is: the antibiotic- and pesticide- laden corpse of a tortured animal.” says Ingrid Newkirk, co-founder of (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) PETA and animal activist. Factory farming should be banned or demolished thoroughly due to more harm than good that is being presented worldwide. Animal brutality, which can be found constantly and excessively throughout factory farms, is a deleterious act involving the animals and a diabolic act regarding human morals. The antic actions that proceed have an effect on both humans and the environment, as well as the unethical, inhumane treatment and the atrocious sufferings of animals. Besides factory farms offering a copious amount of cheaper food, factory farming is a detrimental agricultural practice to both humans and the environment. The way we receive our food is inhumane and unhealthy to humans and the environment, thus factory farms should be banned.

The animals worked very hard that year taking care of the farm by themselves. They did not have to work for humans. The harvest was less than the year before. The two fields that were to be ready for summer were not. The winter was hard. In order to get money for materials the animals were encouraged by Napoleon to trade hay, part of the year’s wheat crop and eggs to other farms. Mr. Whymper was their connection to the outside world.

Industrialization is playing a critical role in the American economy revolution. Massive production bridges the demand gap through provisions in the scarce resources. On the other hand, at what critical point the factory farming crosses the line of expectations. Factory farms dominate U.S. food production, employing abusive practices that maximize agribusiness profits at the expense of the environment, our communities, animal welfare, and even our health. The primary focus of these factories is to generate as much profit margins as possible. Also, they result in the massive killing of livestock on an assembly line systematically. Although factory farming is a massive production with limited time space, lower cost and increase in the income, and genetically engineered and restricts from natural engagement but people fall sick because of the need to eat at the end of the day. I believe factory farming is cruel and should be banned.