Farm animals are products; the more cheaply they are produced, raised and processed (X), the higher the profit margin for farmers. Unfortunately, humane treatment of these animals is put aside for the bottom lines: convenience and money. Since 1930, live stock production has more than doubled while the numbers of producing farmers has gone from 10 billion to 2 billion between 1946 and 1985. This means 'factory farms' have now become the common practice. To provide a better 'product', animals have been selectively bred, raised on hormones, antibiotics, and other chemicals, genetically altered, all to provide the most yield. In addition to this, these industries have opposed any type of legislation from even minimum standards. Fearing backlash from citizens and animal activists, privacy is a priority. Electric fences, armed guards and video surveillance is employed. The general public is, as the pigs and calves are, 'kept in the dark'. Veal Calves Newborn, male calves are kept in crates too small to turn around in (X) (X) (X). Movement is restricted to keep muscle tissue tender. They are given a diet low in iron, therefore making them anemic, so the meat will have the sought after pale color. They are in total darkness most hours of the day for their short lives which is less than 4 months.

Dairy Cows Half of dairy cows are intensively processed (X) . Bovine Growth Hormone doubles the amount of milk produced. Since milk production only lasts for 10 months after the sow has given birth, she will be impregnated constantly. Females born replenish the dairy cows and males are used for veal calves. After capitalizing on the milk and calves, they are slaughtered (X), usually for hamburger . Pigs These intelligent animals are conceived, born (X) , raised (X) and slaughtered all utilizing automated systems. They are crowded into cages and never see the light of day until slaughter. The slated stalls are painful on their feet and cause other deformities. Animal wastes collect under the cages causing a build up of toxic gas, irritating their lungs. 80% of these pigs have pneumonia upon slaughter. Layer Chickens 95% of the eggs brought in the US are from factories that house a quarter of a million to 5 million chickens. Usually, 5-8 birds (X) are confined to a cage no larger than two square feet. To prevent the cannibalism caused by this intense crowding, the beaks of young chicks are seared off with a hot blade. This is excruciatingly painful due to sensitive tissue in that area. As opposed to the darkness pigs and calves experience, they are exposed to constant light for accelerated production. Once a chicken stop producing, she is put into prepared foods or dog food. Since the males are of no use in egg production, half a million per day while live are thrown away, suffocating in trash bags, gassed, or ground up. Broiler Chickens Genetically altered for larger thighs and breasts, these birds cannot even stand, let alone walk. Thirty years ago, it took 15 weeks to reach 'market weight' of 3.5 pounds. Now, in only 7 weeks, they are ready for the slaughterhouse (X) (X) (X). As a result of over-crowding , the birds are kept in total darkness to prevent fighting and as with the laying chickens, the beaks and toes are seared off. For more stories of atrocities: Kentucky Fried Chicken: The Taste of Depravity Pig Cruelty Exposed: What the Investigator Saw Transportation/Slaughterhouse What can I do? Eat more of a diet that consists of protein substitutes; fewer meat products. Also, there are stores that provide free-range meat products, like WholeFoods Fresh Fields . Vegetarianism Vegetarianism in a Nutshell VegSource Vegetarian Resource Group Vegetarian Society of the District of Columbia Subscribe to the Vegetarian Journal Veganism Vegan Outreach Vegan Action Homepage FoodWeb ®: Vegetarian/Vegan Recipes Planet Vegan Free Range Meats Free Range Meats Richard Guy's Real Meat Company Lasater Grasslands Beef | Natural Beef Zion View Ranch North Hollow Farms Other Resources FARM - Farm Animal Reform Movement United Poultry Concerns [UPC] Homepage What every Canadian should know... Farm Sanctuary

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