Factory Farming And Animal Welfare

When one thinks of farms, they probably envision cute animals happily grazing in the grass. However, America’s farm system has changed. What once comprised never-ending fields and white picket fences now consists of huge industrial buildings filled with many tiny cages. These factory farms are not only inconsiderate to animals, but they also affect our human lives. The benefits of factory farming are not worth the consequences. Thesis: Consumers should no longer support factory farmed meat companies due to the harm they cause to human health, the environment, and domestic animals.

Topic sentence: Factory farms pose many health risks. Firstly, factory farms commonly use antibiotics to facilitate animal growth and prevent the spread of illness within the factory.

This is necessary because animals in the factory are bred to have specific traits, meaning they all have a similar genetic makeup. This lack of genetic variation, as well as the confined spaces in which animals live, causes them to be more susceptible to illness. Although these antibiotics benefit producers, they are not safe. Many researchers believe that growth hormones left behind in meat could be the cause of increased cancer rates and early puberty. In addition, bacteria mutates in order to resist these antibiotic drugs. The result is antibiotic-resistant organisms that are very dangerous to the human immune system. Human drugs are not as effective on these bacteria. When Europe banned the use of antibiotics within the farming system, it experienced a decrease in these dangerous strains of bacteria. In addition to the dangers of antibiotics, there is the issue of disease. Firstly, there is E. Coli. E. Coli is a bacterium that every human has, but certain strains can be deadly.

These strains are commonly passed from cows to humans through consumption. Studies have shown that factory cows contribute to the E. Coli issue significantly more than grass-fed ones do. The presence of Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter has also increased following the use of factory farms. Topic Sentence: Not only are factory farms dangerous to human health, but they are also deadly to the health of the world. Firstly, factory farms take animal waste and put it into “lagoons.” These pools of waste pose a major threat to our bodies of water. They contain nitrates, bacteria, and chemicals, all of which have the potential to destroy underwater ecosystems. Even the nutrients in the waste can be dangerous. For example, when there is a manure spill in a lake or river, the new increased source of nutrients can cause excessive growth of algae. If there is too much algae in a lake, it can lead to a reduced level of oxygen available to fish.

The result of this is ultimately the death of thousands of fish. Factory farms also pollute the air. Large factory farms produce greenhouse gases such as nitrous acid and methane, both of which contribute to global warming. Global warming has many major consequences, some of which include rising water levels, intensifying storms, and unpredictable weather. The air around these plants also has unhealthy levels of certain chemicals. Hydrogen sulfide is only one of about 160 chemicals associated with farm pollution. Lastly, the treatment of animals on factory farms is inhumane. All factory farms care about is profit, and this is evident in many of their practices. Due to the conditions within the factories, many alterations must be made to the animals living there. Chickens are debeaked, cattle have their horns removed, and dairy cows have a part of their tail amputated. All of these procedures can cause the animals much distress, yet none are performed with the use of any pain medications. This is, of course, viewed as a waste of money in the eyes of large meat corporations.

Cows are forcefully impregnated time and time again, only to have their babies taken away and killed for veal. Factory farms also alter cows’ diet to increase their body mass, feeding them corn instead of grass. This leads to digestive issues and an unhealthy, uncomfortable body weight. Then there’s the case of chickens — their egg-laying cycles are manipulated through lighting and food adjustments. Consequently, they constantly lay eggs, which causes major stress on their bodies. In addition to this, cows, pigs, and chickens are often kept in such confined spaces that they remain stuck in one position, unable to turn themselves around. After living in such confinement their whole lives, without access to the outside world, these animals are finally put out of their misery. However, even at the end of their lives, many animals suffer; some remain awake during slaughter due to unreliable systems meant to induce unconsciousness. According to the ASPCA, “94 percent of Americans believe animals raised for food deserve to live free from abuse and cruelty.” If this is truly the case, then why do the majority of consumers continue to support these meat corporations?

Factory farms’ practices produce meat inexpensively, which is the main reason people choose their brands. It does not help that the U.S. does not require labels, leaving many typically unaware of where their meat is coming from. In addition to this, “over 95% of farm animals in the U.S. are raised in factory farms” (www.aspca.org). This makes it difficult for American consumers to even find meat raised on a bona fide farm. However, if Americans are truly as concerned with animal welfare as they claim to be, it is entirely plausible for them to change these statistics. Americans should begin to purchase their meat from sources that are not factory farmed, if they are financially able to do so. This would be better for their health, the health of the world, and the lives of many animals. If enough people stop consuming factory farmed meat, it will ultimately cause both the market demand and supply to decrease. This will allow for a resurgence of traditional farming practices and provide U.S. consumers with healthier meat options than they currently have. The most crucial action an American consumer must take for this to happen is to pay attention to food labels when choosing what to purchase. Many food labels are misleading and poorly regulated. Therefore, try to buy only if the items are labeled “Animal Welfare Approved,” “Certified Humane,” or “Global Animal Partnership” (www.aspca.org).

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