Factory Farming
December 4, 2012
Factory Farming With the rising population growth in the United States, food production has greatly changed. Factory farming was developed in the 1920’s; soon after the discovery of vitamins A and D, these vitamins were added to the feed, eliminating the requirement for exercise and sunlight for growth. But what exactly is a factory farm? Factory farming is the dominate source of livestock food for the U.S. Harsh and cruel conditions are inflicted towards the animals which are confined in small cages, the factory’s are inhumane and morally wrong. Simply put, it is a farm that runs like a factory. The dangers of this kind of agribusiness inflict not only the animals but the environment, communities and our health. Should factory farming be banned? The government refers factory farming as; concentrated (or confined) animal feeding operations (CAFOs). So what are the conditions of these ‘concentrated animal feeding operations’? These facilities house hundreds or thousands of cows, calves, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and other animals that live in extremely stressful conditions. They are confined in small cages, jam packed in rooms with little to no room to move around or lay down comfortably. They are fed drugs to fatten them faster and keep them alive in conditions that could otherwise kill them. Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are used to make the animals grow faster or to produce much more milk or eggs than they naturally would. (Sorensen, 2009) When animals raised for food are large enough for the slaughter houses they are transported in crowded trucks with often no water or food. The animals that survive this grotesque trip are often slaughtered alive. Practices such as altering animals bodies are common in all factory farms, practices such as; debeaking, A process that involves cutting through bone, cartilage and soft tissue with a blade
Factory Farming With the rising population growth in the United States, food production has greatly changed. Factory farming was developed in the 1920’s; soon after the discovery of vitamins A and D, these vitamins were added to the feed, eliminating the requirement for exercise and sunlight for growth. But what exactly is a factory farm? Factory farming is the dominate source of livestock food for the U.S. Harsh and cruel conditions are inflicted towards the animals which are confined in small cages, the factory’s are inhumane and morally wrong. Simply put, it is a farm that runs like a factory. The dangers of this kind of agribusiness inflict not only the animals but the environment, communities and our health. Should factory farming be banned? The government refers factory farming as; concentrated (or confined) animal feeding operations (CAFOs). So what are the conditions of these ‘concentrated animal feeding operations’? These facilities house hundreds or thousands of cows, calves, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and other animals that live in extremely stressful conditions. They are confined in small cages, jam packed in rooms with little to no room to move around or lay down comfortably. They are fed drugs to fatten them faster and keep them alive in conditions that could otherwise kill them. Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are used to make the animals grow faster or to produce much more milk or eggs than they naturally would. (Sorensen, 2009) When animals raised for food are large enough for the slaughter houses they are transported in crowded trucks with often no water or food. The animals that survive this grotesque trip are often slaughtered alive. Practices such as altering animals bodies are common in all factory farms, practices such as; debeaking, A process that involves cutting through bone, cartilage and soft tissue with a blade