The Pros And Cons Of Animal Welfare

This is an argument that I could certainly see being made among many consumers. But before diving into the argument I believe it is first important to define the term factory farm that is most commonly used among animal rights activists in an antagonistic manner. But according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a factory farm is a large industrialized farm; especially: a farm on which large numbers of livestock are raised indoors in conditions intended to maximize production at minimal cost (Factory farm). But according to an article published by The American Farm Bureau Federation, 97 percent of farms are family-owned, not corporate factories (Farm Bureau). And while some animals are raised in confinement, there are strict laws and regulations in place that require a certain square footage of space per animal. These regulations permit enough space for the animals to move at free will while waste removal systems keep facilities clean. It is also important to remember that if an animal does not have adequate space, food and water availability, and a clean environment it will never be productive. While I realize that a “factory farm” may seem cruel, I refute the objection, as it is first important to remember that 97 percent of farms are family-owned and that those facilities where livestock are raised

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.

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

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.

Most of the animals under this condition will develop illnesses, abnormalities, go insane, or die before they make it to the slaughterhouse (Alfie, 2010). In the U.S., over 10 billion animals are raised and killed each year for food about 9 billion chickens, 250 million turkeys, 100 million pigs, 35 million cows. The vast majority of these are not raised on small family farms but, rather, in the major agricultural facilities called?factory farms, also known as Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). The idea of factory farming originated in the 1920s with the discovery of vitamins A and D. When mixed with feed; farm animals were capable of growing without sunlight or exercise, which enabled them to be raised more efficiently in barns throughout the year (Fieser, 2015). Factory farming is a form of capitalism. Capitalism is an economic system that is privately controlled by owners for profit and self-interest (Fieser, 2015). Many philosophers have proposed the principle of equal consideration of interests, in some form or other, as a primary moral value; but, we shall see in more element shortly, not many of them have documented that this principle applies to members of other species as well as to our own. (Singer, 1989). In today society the consumer is much more interested in knowing how the chickens are raised, what they?ve been eating

The farmers of long ago took pride in their animals treating them with kindness and care, but today they are kept in small cramp areas with countless other hogs where the ability for movement is often constricted this for the animal causes stress and in turn makes the meat more tough, and sometimes fattier. Some of these animals are filled with hormones that will increase their size making the animals today larger than the ones in the past, but larger doesn’t always mean better. The hormones that they are using can cause illness to some people this unacceptable this is not only unethical, but inhumane to the animal and how they are treated. The small hog farmers are bought out from the big business, but they still allow the farmer to raise the animals under strict guidelines that they must follow this in turn makes the small farmer feel like they “work for the man” and their understanding of the business is often shot down because they have little or no control of their farm they are told how to raise the hogs, how to process them and transport them, but at times they are the ones that have to take the fines if they are not following standing USDA procedures with the big corporation

First if the crates were not as small as they wouldn’t have as many problems with disorders. Gestation crates are causing sows to have mental and physical disorders. Crippling leg disorder is common among sow’s who are kept in gestation crates because they are not able to move

By treating animals roughly, it has a snowball like effect on the health of the animals themselves, the health of human beings and the health of the planet. Roughness with the animals can cause them to experience a lot of stress, especially if confined in a small space. The stress that is caused can worsen the food that is to come from them, which can hurt anyone who eats it. Factory farms have been around since the 1920s and have only become worse in terms of animal welfare and food safety. In order to remedy this situation, America, as a whole, must work to make factory farms a better place for animals to live.

Factory farming is the process of “employing abusive practices that maximize agribusiness profits at the expense of the environment, our communities, animal welfare, and even our health” (Factory Farming). These methods are used across the United States and have major impacts on not only those consuming the food but the environment as well. Some hold the position that this method is inhumane and should not be allowed. However, others argue that this process creates economically cheap food and allows food to be produced at a faster rate. Therefore, the factory farming industry can improve its conditions in all aspects if it is reformed to successfully satisfy the rights that the livestock deserve and

“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.

Cohen fails to mention the terrible conditions the animals are kept in for conventional farming. On a factory farm chickens can be de-beaked and cows and pigs can have their tails cut because it increases safety and efficiency. This causes serious pain and discomfort to the animals. Cutting off the tail also increases animal stress because cows can't use their tail to swat flies away They are kept in a small confined space and dairy calves have their horns removed by burning the bud from where the horns grow this also causes serious pain to the animal. Studies have shown that stress to the animal can cause an increased chance of disease and lower quality of milk. meat, and eggs. Pigs are kept on concrete floors which cause deformation the their feet. When pigs are transported they experience stress and mistreatment, along with the horrible places they are held, many pigs die before they get to the slaughterhouse. So you are getting more yields from each harvest but you are also putting a huge amount of pain and stress on the animal which doesn’t seem justifiable.

Factory farming is a hot topic amongst animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) or the Humane Society. Most animal rights organizations object to the use of gestation crates in modern pig farming. Gestation crates are individualized spaces designed to restrict the movement of the pigs contained within its four walls (see Figure 1) during the gestation, or pregnancy, cycle of a pig.

Animal rights is the philosophy or idea that all animals should be able to live a life free from human exploitation pain and suffering. According to Gale ” The idea of animal rights has roots in ancient times. In Greek philosophy, the animists believed that both animals and people had souls. The vitalists believed that humans were animals but at the top of the chain and could use animals for their benefit.” ( Animals Rights, par.2). In the early twentieth century in the United States, there was no law that regards to animal experimentation. In 1937 there was a pharmaceutical company that developed medicine called Elixir Sulfanilamide. When the medicine was released the company was unaware that the substance was harmful because the drug

Sarah: Though the federal laws Jami mentioned do in fact exist, they are absolutely not enforced. This is evident through the video that was shown at the beginning; cows and pigs are stomped on and thrown to their death while chickens are just put through a grater. Also, let’s focus on the last sentence. Chickens are put through a grater, have their throats cut, and worse. And this happens because The Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act does not include them. Chickens are not covered by this federal law. Simply, and fairly, our bill will include chickens in this law and they will be protected, along with the other livestock killed yearly. Now, as to what this bill will help this law protect? Animals feeling pain. This law, The Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act, a law put in place in 1958, required farm animals - except chickens - to be completely sedated before slaughter. As I mentioned, this law is not enforced. Let’s have specific examples. Besides the physical abuse animals face before slaughter, some animals are not completely sedated. The way slaughterhouse workers go about sedating small animals, like chickens, is by running them under electric-infused water so they get shocked to death; for larger animals, like pigs and cows, is by shooting an electric bolt through the back of their head to essentially make them brain dead. Now, a statistic from Peta, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, stated that no more than 30% of cows and pigs are killed