subject: Animal Factories - What Does Our Meat Eat? [print this page] What Do You Imagine? What Do You Imagine?
What do you think of when you envision farm animals? Do you think of a fat cow in a sun-drenched pasture munching on some green grass? Or do you imagine some chickens lazing about pecking on the ground for seed outside of a beautiful red barn? These scenes look wonderful on a post card but are not the actual proceedings at farm factories.
The Reality
Animals on most farm factories are literally tormented every hour of their existence until they meet a cruel torturous fate at the slaughterhouse. Please see my article entitled Animal Consumption - A Cruel Ritual to gain a bit more insight into this incomprehensible abuse. These farm factories have realized that by cramming the most animals into the smallest space possible they can greatly increase their profit margins. Let me also assure you that there is absolutely no concern for the welfare of the animal when profits are in reality the only consideration. This is one of the reasons for the term "farm factory". Given this reality do you think that these animals are being fed high quality food or do you think these factories attempt to cut costs here also? If that answer is not readily apparent to you, may I suggest that you are either deluding yourself, or just have never given the question so much as a moments thought.
The truth is that in the brutal farm factories' never ending searchfor ways to lower costs and thereby increase profits, they have resorted to feeding these poor abused creatures that which is unbelievably unhealthy for them and also for the humans that consume their flesh.
What's For Dinner?
Have you ever heard of Mad Cow Disease? That is the consequence of feeding dead cows to live cows. The Federal Government has intervened a bit in this connection but cattle can still be fed blood from dead cows as well as other parts from these carcasses. Pigs, turkeys, chickens, etc. can all legally be fed the dead carcasses of their own species. And of course these animals can be fed the carcasses of cattle and when they die they in turn can be fed to cows so as you can see the cause of Mad Cow Disease has not really been stopped, but it is just a bit longer cycle now. The steak you had for dinner last night can legally be fed dead horse, dead dogs and cats, feathers, hair, hooves, blood, internal organs, and other disgusting matter.
Of course all of this (feed) contains large traces of cow, pig, and poultry manure, as well as the drugs they have been fed such as antibiotics ( to keep these poor creatures alive under terribly crowded, unsanitary, and stress filled conditions) arsenic and hormones (to promote faster growth) and anything else that might sneak into the (food?) they are subjected to. Much of the drugs which they have been fed passes straight through their bodies without change so that you and I can ingest them with our dinner. Isn't this wonderful?
And please don't forget that your vision of Elsie the cow grazing in a lovely pasture eating what they are meant to eat (grass) is not what is happening. Besides the antibiotic and hormone rich dead animal carcasses they are fed (which they can't digest) they are also fed huge amounts of grain ( which they also cannot digest) in order to fatten them up quicker so you can have your share of these delicacies at your next barbecue.
If you have ever wondered why the antibiotics that used to help clear up your ear infection are no longer as effective please understand that the above practices make bacteria highly resistant to antibiotics and this is just one of the many unhealthy results of the inhumane raising of animals in farm factories.
An Informed Choice
If you choose to turn a deaf ear to these practices and continue to eat your meat because it tastes good, than there is not much anyone could say. I must admit however it is very difficult for me to conceive of a choice for the above by any rational human being. It is even more incomprehensible when there is a simpler, far healthier, and more sterile alternative. A plant based diet is exactly what the doctor ordered. If you desire to greatly decrease your chances for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, obesity, etc., please consider the benefits of vegetarianism. But even if your own health and welfare is of no great concern to you, then at least do it for the benefit of these tortured animals that should in reality be our friends. And while you are at it you will be simultaneously making a huge contribution to the betterment of the environment of the planet we call home.
As far as this writer is concerned, a healthy vegetarian choice is the only rational response. Please be responsible enough to at least become informed.
