Spring Break
The real, not so ugly truth behind factory farms
Robyn Scherer
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Opinion
I know you have heard the term "factory farm." When you think of this, what image comes to mind? Do you think of big steel buildings? Thousands of animals? Evil practices? If this is your thinking, you're wrong. And you're not alone.
Ellen DeGeneres had Jonathan Safran Foer, author of the book "Eating Animals," on her show this week. He touted facts to the audience of Ellen that were untrue about what he calls factory farming. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
"More than 99 percent of animals that are raised for meat are raised on factory farms. Which means they are raised indoors, usually in windowless sheds," Foer said.
This figure is grossly inaccurate. If 99 percent of the animals were raised this way, you would never see cattle grazing on an open pasture. You would not see sheep or goats out anywhere.
It is true that hogs and chickens are raised in confinement, but this is done for several reasons. There are approximately 65 million hogs in the U.S., according to www.pigprogress.net. Although I do not agree with standard commercial hog practices, I can understand why they are raised the way they are.
That many animals would take up a lot of room, and to be honest, it's not room that is available. Hogs require shelter and would struggle to live out on an open pasture. Farrowing crates are used to protect piglets, because a large sow (mother pig) does not always see all of her offspring and can lie on them. I personally do not use farrowing crates in my operation.
As for chickens, in 2007 there were 455 million birds in the United States. If all of these chickens were put out in large pastures, a couple of things would happen. First of all, chickens also need shelter. Secondly, they are vulnerable to predation.
Raising chickens inside helps to keep them healthier and protected. Although it would be nice to be able to expand these operations, again it comes down to room. Land is expensive to buy and costly to build on. As urban sprawl continues, the amount of land available for agriculture continues to decrease.
Ellen DeGeneres had Jonathan Safran Foer, author of the book "Eating Animals," on her show this week. He touted facts to the audience of Ellen that were untrue about what he calls factory farming. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
"More than 99 percent of animals that are raised for meat are raised on factory farms. Which means they are raised indoors, usually in windowless sheds," Foer said.
This figure is grossly inaccurate. If 99 percent of the animals were raised this way, you would never see cattle grazing on an open pasture. You would not see sheep or goats out anywhere.
It is true that hogs and chickens are raised in confinement, but this is done for several reasons. There are approximately 65 million hogs in the U.S., according to www.pigprogress.net. Although I do not agree with standard commercial hog practices, I can understand why they are raised the way they are.
That many animals would take up a lot of room, and to be honest, it's not room that is available. Hogs require shelter and would struggle to live out on an open pasture. Farrowing crates are used to protect piglets, because a large sow (mother pig) does not always see all of her offspring and can lie on them. I personally do not use farrowing crates in my operation.
As for chickens, in 2007 there were 455 million birds in the United States. If all of these chickens were put out in large pastures, a couple of things would happen. First of all, chickens also need shelter. Secondly, they are vulnerable to predation.
Raising chickens inside helps to keep them healthier and protected. Although it would be nice to be able to expand these operations, again it comes down to room. Land is expensive to buy and costly to build on. As urban sprawl continues, the amount of land available for agriculture continues to decrease.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 24
Bea Elliott
posted 11/06/09 @ 9:18 AM MST
On bio-security... I'm very certain had Foer been requested to shower before inspecting one of these "not so ugly" facilities, he would have been more than willing to. (Continued…)
Jen
posted 11/06/09 @ 11:24 AM MST
Thank you! Its nice to hear agriculture making a public stand. The public needs to be more educated on the reality of our food supply instead of just relying on radical statements in the media. (Continued…)
Ben Miller
posted 11/06/09 @ 1:10 PM MST
Seriously? Seriously? No, no...seriously? Are you actually contending that factory farming systems are for providing the animals with shelter? Wow. That is rediculous. (Continued…)
Skeptical White Man
posted 11/06/09 @ 3:36 PM MST
You apparently were NOT taught how to use spell check before posting. Elytracy es a bech.
jimmy
posted 11/06/09 @ 6:27 PM MST
Ben,
This is ridiculous...
"That is rediculous. If it weren't so rediculous, it would be offensive. "
LOL!
john649
posted 11/07/09 @ 12:16 PM MST
Boy are ever delusional!!! are you seriously trying to defend the factory farms by claiming animals are being protected?? How much are you getting paid for this nonsense and if your not then you've just added your self to the list of delusion whackos in line with the Birthers and Death Panels
john649
amber
posted 11/07/09 @ 12:22 PM MST
The U.S. egg industry suffocates, gases, or grinds up alive 250 million male chicks each year; they are not profitable because they will never produce eggs and are not bred to grow at an unnatural speed like broiler chickens. (Continued…)
Zach
posted 11/07/09 @ 7:01 PM MST
Good article, people really do need to look into things before spouting off about how "horrible" they are.
The fact is, most of the people whining about how horrible of a country we are, as usual, for how we treat animals this time are commenting on something they have no idea about. (Continued…)
D. Elliot
posted 11/07/09 @ 11:38 PM MST
You PETA idiots make me laugh. Not one of you has probably ever been to a farm in your life, you just continue to buy in to the feed of b.s. other misled idiots tell you. (Continued…)
SamW
posted 11/08/09 @ 2:12 PM MST
so, the sanctimonious comments have actually been to a slaughter house, eh?? Been to a farm Sanctuary, been to Factory Farm????? Been to a Fur Farm and seen the anal electrocutions or skinning alive of baby animals?
How hypocritical of you to point a finger while not even understanding where your pointing, or what your talking about. (Continued…)
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