Factory Farming
Imagine a calf or a piglet. It is brought into a beautiful world only to be separated from its mother, packed into a pen, and fed out for slaughter. Is this inhumane and objectionable or actually humane and completely acceptable? This issue has sparked much debate over the years, correlating with the rise of the animal rights movement and intensive farming. Cambridge Dictionaries defines this intensive, or factory, farming as “a system of farming in which many animals are kept in an enclosed area in order to produce a large amount of meat, eggs, or milk as cheaply as possible.” Views differ about this type of farming, some for it and some against it. The large scale production of livestock for food and other products is what is best for all parties involved.
One justification for the mass production of meat and other goods is that it is what is best for the population, as it benefits society. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), over 16 million farm and agriculture related careers exist in America today. These include anything from farm employment to food transportation and manufacturing. People in society need jobs, and as long as intensive farming continues to grow, more and more will be created. Intensive farming also makes meat affordable to the poorest of communities on a fairly consistent basis, and the nutrients found in these products are important for a healthy diet. A 2011 study by Colby College found that retail prices for organic ground beef were 134 percent greater than those for beef produced on large scale farms. Additionally, with the growth of the world population, confinement farming produces a vast quantity of protein rich meat within a small portion of land. More property can then be used for the population 's other needs, such as housing. Clearly, restriction of the livestock industry would negatively impact society with fewer jobs and food sources. However, humans are not the only party that benefits from large
One justification for the mass production of meat and other goods is that it is what is best for the population, as it benefits society. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), over 16 million farm and agriculture related careers exist in America today. These include anything from farm employment to food transportation and manufacturing. People in society need jobs, and as long as intensive farming continues to grow, more and more will be created. Intensive farming also makes meat affordable to the poorest of communities on a fairly consistent basis, and the nutrients found in these products are important for a healthy diet. A 2011 study by Colby College found that retail prices for organic ground beef were 134 percent greater than those for beef produced on large scale farms. Additionally, with the growth of the world population, confinement farming produces a vast quantity of protein rich meat within a small portion of land. More property can then be used for the population 's other needs, such as housing. Clearly, restriction of the livestock industry would negatively impact society with fewer jobs and food sources. However, humans are not the only party that benefits from large
Cited: “Animal Welfare in Packing Plants: An Overview.” American Meat Institute. American Meat Institute, Oct. 2012. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. . “Factory Farming.” Cambridge Dictionaries Online. Cambridge UP, n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2013. . “FAQs.” United States Department of Agriculture. USDA, 28 Jan. 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. . Harp, Randy. “Swine Health.” Tarleton State University, n.d. PowerPoint. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffaculty.tarleton.edu%2Fharp%2Fdocuments%2Fnotes%2Fswine%2Flecture%2F7.%2520Swine%2520Health%2520lecture.ppt&ei=7rjEUr-VKsKCyAGek4HgCw&usg=AFQjCNEIDwYfdSA-uDZ7Q4fY18y4pReb9Q&sig2=IKSIRwXTVBWd-QNn2xxg_Q&bvm=bv.58187178,d.aWc “Humane Handling of Livestock.” United States Department of Agriculture. USDA FSIS, 22 Mar. 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. . “Myths and Facts.” Animal Agriculture Alliance. Animal Agriculture Alliance, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. . “Pigs Used for Food.” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. . Pillsbury, Melissa White. “Organic versus Non-Organic; Store versus Farmers’ Market.” Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. MOFGA, n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2014. .