Chelsey Morris Professor Andrea Miller English 1213: Comp II Online May 1, 2015 Concerns of Factory Farming Do you remember sitting in history class listening to the teacher talk about the early years of the 1900’s? Maybe the subject was farming and how the earlier years grew their own crops, canned their own goods, and even produced their own milk. In the history books rural America was usually painted as green pasture where animals had plenty to eat and full range to travel. Well, I must say, times have changed. All across the country, family farming “has been pushed aside” (Humane Society 5). Basically, factory farming has taken over what many people knew as family farming. But the better question is, is the world aware of the dangers …show more content…
Some people know factory farming as a CAFO or AFO, but to make it simple factory farming is industrial animal production facilities. CAFO’s are increasingly how the agribusiness industry is meeting our country’s demand for beef, poultry, and pork. A typical factory farm consists of many large metal buildings where the animals are houses. Some people might believe that farm animals live in a pleasure full environment. Others might not. For instance, maybe some believe that “cows are left to graze on green fields while pigs live on quaint family farms” (Williams 374). Better yet, this beautiful image is far from reality. Animals used for factory farming are not living in that so called pleasure full environment. For one, the business of raising animals for food consumption is becoming more and more competitive as the days goes by. As Nancy Williams states, “Billions of animals are born, confined, biologically manipulated, transported, and ultimately slaughtered each year” (Williams 375). Unfortunalty, these situations can lead to animal cruelty and be prone to unsanitary …show more content…
Odors not only harm the air, but also put the staff of these factories at risk of chronic illnesses. The better question is, why should workers be put to harm? The ones mostly affected by factory farming are the ones behind the counter slaving to get the job done properly (Pluhar 456). Painful, stressful, to emotional, whichever it may be the staff suffer. Most are at the risk of chronic illness. When the land is contaminated with waste, it harms the water in which spreads bacteria. With this contamination being in water, it has the chance of being spread into human consumption. Therefore in dangerous the
Our nation’s industrial farming has become more than just feeding people; it has become a way for the food industry to make more money as human population continues to grow. Jonathan Safran Foer in his book Eating Animals, illustrates the effects factory farming has had on animals meant for human consumption. Furthermore, Foer asks many questions to the reader on what will it take for us to change our ways before we say enough is enough. The questions individuals need to be asking themselves are: how do we deal with the problem of factory farming, and what can people do to help solve these issues? Eric Schlosser in Fast Food Nation, also illustrates the animal abuse that goes unseen within the food industry as well as Bernard Rollin and Robert Desch in their article “Farm Factories”, both demonstrate what is wrong today with factory farming. Foer gives such examples of employees who work in slaughterhouses giving accounts of what goes on in the kill floors, and stories of employees who have witnessed thousands and thousands of cows going through the slaughter process alive (Animals 231). Namit Arora in the article “On Eating Animals”, as well as Michael Pollan in his book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, both address some of the issues that animals face once they hit the kill floor. The food industry has transformed not only how people eat, but also the negative effects our climate endures as a result of factory farming as illustrated by Anna Lappe in “The Climate Crisis at the End
Factory Farming is an increasing industry in the United States. These large farms, which evidently appear to be more like slaughterhouses than the typical farms a person can imagine are located throughout the United States. These factory farms contain animals ranging from chickens, sheep, goats, cows, turkeys, and pigs, they also contain dairy products. The conditions for the animals and the employees of these factory farms are inhumane and vile. Life behind the walls of the factory farm is both unsanitary for the animals and the employees. Employees are forced to endure long hours and poor treatment. Animals in these conditions withstand living in cages and are forced to live in uninhabitable ways.
Factory farming has many flaws in the system, animal abuse is one that is usually over looked by owners of these farms. Many works while on this farm are exposed to the cruelty that the animals go through but often can do very little to change it. “Factory farms pack animals into spaces so tight that most can barely move. Many have no access to the outdoors, spending their lives on open warehouse floors, or housed in cages or pens.” (aspca) Without the room to engage in natural behaviors, animals become exposed to severe physical and mental distress. Many animals become trampled to death and never experience the proper life
The effects of factory farming is not worth the damage that is done to the health of the environment, animals, and people. The idea of a factory farm is to produce meat at a faster pace, but the way these companies accomplish this task makes life a living hell for the animals. For example, “They’re often given so little space that they can’t even turn around or lie down comfortably. Egg-laying hens are kept in small cages, chickens and pigs are kept in jam-packed sheds, and cows are kept on crowded, filthy feedlots”(Factory). The animals on these farms have to experience constant fear and agony, especially since most factory farmed animals will be genetically manipulated to grow larger or to produce more milk or eggs than they naturally would, and suffer severe pain throughout their entire life(Factory). Animals, especially cows, are being abused not only physically, but mentally as well.. For example, “just within hours of birth, calves are taken away from
Over the last 10 years or so Americans have been at odds with themselves and other Americans regarding the treatment of food source animals. The term “factory farm” is being coined for method in which animals are being processed in the food system. I will be discussing what a factory farm is, who or what benefits from them, and finally at what cost? Factory Farms have become an institution in support of the American way life, regardless of what we think; they have advantages and disadvantages.
A poll conducted by the ASPCA revealed that 94% of Americans believe that production animals, specifically those raised for food, deserve to live a comfortable life free of cruelty and neglect. Despite this belief, many factory farm animals are abused and neglected in such ways that, if witnessed by consumers, would not be accepted. Over 99% of the United State’s farm animals live on factory farms that use them for means of profit, many of them violating the Animal Welfare Act and other laws put in place to protect the humane treatment of animals (ASPCA). This abuse is not limited to any specific type of farm animal. Although different animals are used for different purposes, they all share a common suffering and a need for humane care.
Have you ever wondered what you’re really eating, where the ground beef in your cheeseburger comes from, or if the animals are getting the same satisfaction and happiness that your hunger gets? Factory farming is the reason for these questions we ask ourselves. They say we should eat animal products that trace back to factory farms because they wouldn’t raise anything that’s not good for us in a “farm”. I say that you shouldn’t eat animal products from factory farms because of the corrupted conditions animals live in. They might object that factory farms is a better choice because you get more bang for your buck versus going to a farmers market and spending an arm and a leg for naturally raised produce.
Industrial agriculture is currently the predominant food production system in the United States. It is distinguished by large-scale monoculture, abundant use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and meat production in CAFOs. CAFOs are ‘Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations’, otherwise known as factory farms, which aim to cram as many animals in one space to boost efficiency and profit at the expense of animal suffering and environmental hazards.
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.
“This is horrible! I can’t even watch this!” Those were my immediate thoughts the first time my eyes were opened to the inhumane animal cruelty on factory farms. Factory farming enables mass production to supply the demands of today’s society but also enables the cruel treatment of animals. We need to end the cruelty and abuse that these animals have to endure at the factory farms because it causes loss to the business, reduces the quality of the product produced, and endangers the health of those who buy the product. We can promote humane treatment of factory farm animals by prevention through education, by enforcing humane laws by being an example of humane animal treatment, and by donating and/or
“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.
Does the economic benefits of factory farming outweigh the disadvantages? Our lives are so closely linked to these farm animals, what makes them so different from our cats and dogs? We care much of our pets, but when it comes to the term ”factory farm”, little do we know about the production process of factory farm and the truth behind the scene. There are some ways that the producer can make sacrifice and still achieve increased profit. The economic benefit of factory farm does not necessary outweigh the disadvantages. It’s time we should boycott factory farm, not just for the welfare of animals, but also for our own sake.
Factory farms may be dependent on technology and advanced equipment, but that doesn't mean that they don't require a staff. In fact, the machines used require additional staff members to operate them. Along with that staff members are also needed to clean the premises and take care of the animals. Factory farms also need people to handle food, deliver meat, eggs, and milk to grocery stores and shops, and other food related tasks. Because of this, factory farms provide employment for those who need jobs and a decent income for those who need to support their
I know there are potential and probable environmental health threats in the world today, but I have never really sat down and thought about it in the community in which I live. There are many industrial factories in the community I live in making pet food products and all types of household appliances just to name a few. I know there is definitely air quality issues as there are certain days of the week that you can smell the makings of pet food in the air being cooked and often smell the melting of metal from the appliance factories. These factories employ many people that work in this community and most people don’t even notice the smell, but I am sure there are some toxins in the air that we are breathing everyday with the smells. I’m sure
When you think of animal farms, most of us resort to the image of animals and chickens on Old McDonald’s farm with a bright red barn in the background. However, animals have not always been in agriculture. In fact today, farming has very little in common with the images we remember in children’s books. Now, animals are killed and processed through large machines of mass production in factory farming.