Recently, Animals Australia has produced and released an advertisement about the cruelty involved in factory farming. I, like many others watched the advertisement and accompanying documentary. I, like many others found the footage shocking, distressing, and at times, sad. But I, unlike many others, was not surprised. Five minutes surfing the internet provided me with the same information when I wrote on this subject over a year ago. Five minutes surfing the internet was enough time for me to decide that there was something so inherently wrong with the meat industry as it stands that I wanted nothing to do with it. And thus another self righteous vegetarian was made.
Well, I hope the last bit isn't true, but the rest of it is. There are some serious problems in our food industry, and I think it is about time that they are exposed. Animals Australia have done a fantastic job at outlining some of the biggest problems, but in terms of abuse of animals in food production, they have barely scratched the surface. I intend to give an outline of what the problems are. I will then give my take on what I think the solution could be. Despite being a vegetarian, I don't intend to promote abstinence from meat as a solution at all, so if that is a concern, I hope that I have allayed it. I suppose I will dive straight into the problems:
The Problems
Chickens (Eggs)
I think the use of chickens kept in cages for their whole lives is a fairly well known problem. I am sure that this issue is self explanatory, but I will explain a little bit as to why it is so wrong, just in case there is any doubt. The use cages means that chickens are kept in a space smaller than an A4 piece of paper. They are unable to flap their wings, scratch in the dirt, or exhibit any natural behaviour. Often they are subjected to cruel practices such as debeaking without anaesthetic so that more chickens can be crammed in a cage without them attacking each other. Many spend their whole lives standing on wire, so they have some pretty serious foot problems by the end of it. They do not see sunlight, as they spend all their days in a dingy shed. They live in these conditions for about 2 years, and once they stop being 'productive', they are sent off to slaughter. This is a problem that has even driven governments into action-I believe battery farming is being phased out in the EU with the view of being banned soon, and Tasmania is having discussions of doing the same thing.
The problems are not only confined to battery farms though. On the vast majority of farms, male chicks are killed in a very cruel manner. They are seen as 'excess' on most farms, as they are effectively quite useless (with the exception of those used for breeding purposes), and so are gassed to death, squashed, or even ground up alive. This occurs in most free range, barn laid, and definitely battery farms, and occurs even in RSPCA approved farms. This is a complex issue, which I will discuss in the solutions part of this.
Pigs (Pork)
The most profound problems with pig farming involve the use of cages as well. These are very different cages. There are two types of cages that get used on pig farms, with these being sow stalls, and farrowing crates. Sow stalls are what female pigs are confined in for weeks before giving birth. These are a type of cage that effectively prevents the sow from moving around-they can only take a step forward or back. They cannot even turn around. If you think that is bad, sorry, it gets worse. A few days before the sow gives birth, she is moved to an even crueller invention called a farrowing crate where she is forced to lay down for weeks after giving birth to the pigs. This is to stop the mother inadvertently killing her young (say, by sitting on them). Apparently, there is no real difference between mortality rates according to this study. Various governments are trying to phase this out, but no word yet for Australia.
The other major problem with pig farming is that pigs have painful procedures performed on them without anaesthesia. This was well depicted in this advertisment but I will expound on it here-often pigs have their tails cut off, and teeth clipped without any anaesthetic. Sorry, but again, it gets worse. Male pigs are also castrated without anaesthetic. Why this is allowed is beyond me, given that if it were done to a dog or a cat, the perpetrator would be liable for animal cruelty.
Chickens (Meat)
Chickens that are grown for meat have fairly similar problems to battery hens with regard to the cages, however they also have pretty unique problems. Chickens used for meat (also called broiler chickens) have been selectively bred to the point where they grow from little chick, to fully grown meat chicken in 35 days. This is not really normal for a chicken and while their meaty bits might grow this fast, a lot of the time their legs cannot take their weight, nor can their organs support this growth. It isn't much of a life for those 35 days as a meat chicken. It is sad to think that the first time many of these chickens get to see the outside is on the truck to the slaughterhouse.
Cows (Milk)
This one may well be unexpected for a lot of people, and was a surprise for me when I first started researching this stuff. What I discovered was not particularly nice. Basically the same problems that arise with baby male chickens arises with baby male cows as well-they are slaughtered. Generally, they are removed from their mother 12-24 hours after they are born and sent to slaughter. At this point, they cannot stand up straight and so are not the most compliant animals to get onto a truck. As a consequence, they are often abused by workers. Their mother grieves for the loss of her calf, and may cry for her young for up to a week. This too is a complex problem, but I have found a good solution, which I will expound upon in my solutions thing.
Along with these problems, there are also more unique problems. For a cow to produce the amount of milk expected can be a serious strain on her body. Their life expectancy is quite lower. As a consequence of walking and standing on concrete for all their lives, a large number are often rendered lame by the time they die.
Cows (Meat)
I'll be honest and say that meat cattle are probably one of the most ethical meats out there excluding the problems with live export. With that being said, there are still problems. In a similar way to pigs, painful procedures are done on cows without anaesthetic. These may include branding, dehorning, and castration. I have personally seen a dehorning procedure go on in an Ag Department of a school I used to go to, and it is nothing short of horrific. (This school interestingly recently got implicated in animal cruelty charges after a number of farm animals died of starvation as they were forgotten on school holidays). As I said before, it is beyond me why this is allowed-we wouldn't be allowed to do it to our pets, so I don't understand why it is ok to do it to cows.
There are also some serious problems with cows on 'feedlots'. This is where they are taken and are given 9 metres squared of space (not a lot when you are a cow) and are basically fattened as quickly as possible. Often, there is mud and faeces through the feedlots, which may lead to infections. As a consequence, cattle are just dosed up with massive amounts of antibiotics. It is a completely different picture than that of a cow grazing in a field (but don't worry, these do exist too, as I will talk about in solutions.) This isn't a particularly nice life for a cow. Another issue rears its ugly head here as well. These cows are fed grain, instead of grass. This is grain that could be going towards humans (this is expounded upon in the Animals Australia Advertisement as well). I think we are all aware that there is a hunger crisis going on at the moment, so it is infuriating to see people starving so that other people can get their fix of cheap beef.
Turkeys (Meat)
I am not going to repeat myself but simply say the exact same problems that arise with broiler chickens arise with turkey.
Fish
Many of the problems that I have raised above you may think do not arise in fish. Unfortunately, eating fish is not really any more ethical (or unethical) than eating mammals. They are bred in cramped conditions tantamount to being kept in a cage. They can suffer. They are often aware of their suffering. It can be a horrible life for them.
Along with this, there are also problems with overfishing or killing the wrong thing. Thanks to supertrawlers such as this one many fish can be caught and killed at once. Unfortunately, these massive nets do not discriminate, and other sea life (including endangered species) may be caught as well. Furthermore, we are not going to be able to keep fishing like this forever, or these species may be extinct. In fact, as a consequence of overfishing bluefin tuna is close to extinction.
Ducks (Meat and Fois Gras)
The same problems face meat ducks that face broiler chickens. But I thought I'd use this paragraph to outline a delicacy called Fois Gras. This is a pate made from the fatty livers of ducks. It is how the livers are made fatty that is concerning. These ducks (which live in a tiny cage of course) have a tube shoved down their throat three times a day to be fed (or overfed) a grain mixture. This makes their livers fat, and ultimately diseased. I find this a bit twisted, as do a number of governments who have chosen to ban this practice.
This concludes the problems that I intend to discuss. I'll now move on to the solutions, and despite the magnitude of these problems I have no intention of advocating vegetarianism/veganism as the only way. This is because it is not.
The Solutions
Chickens (Eggs)
If the only thing that you have a problem with in terms of eggs is chickens being crammed in cages, then the solution is quite simple, with this being purchasing cage free eggs. This comes with a caveat-the Australian Egg Corporation isn't exactly the most ethical bunch of people and have no problem using confusing terminology which may mislead you into purchasing eggs which you think are cruelty free, but are anything but. For instance, did you know the Egg Corporation wants to change the definition of 'Free Range' to mean 20 000 chickens per hectare? When you do the maths, that is not a lot of space per chook, and they may as well be in cages.With that being said, the RSPCA has done some fantastic work so that you don't have to be misled by the Egg Corporation. They have waged a very successful war against cage eggs, and have developed a set of standards that farmers have to comply with, which can be seen here. The approved brands and stockists can be seen here.
If your problems are further than that, and you take issue with the way baby male chicks are disposed of, then the solution is not quite as simple. I have attempted to search for brands that do not kill male chicks, but have not been able to find any. As a consequence, the only suggestions I can give are to get your own chickens (you can even adopt an ex battery hen!) Not everyone has that option. The only other thing I can suggest doing is going to local markets and asking around (I am sure if you looked hard enough, you'd find a small scale seller who didn't kill their baby male chicks), or making friends with people who do have chickens!
Pigs (Pork)
The biggest problem with pigs is easily sow stalls and farrowing crates. You will be relieved to know that you won't see these on an RSPCA approved farm. Their standards for pork can be seen here, and the stockists who sell such pork can be seen here. If you are an animal lover, you will be pleased to know that Coles released this statement today.
Chickens (Meat)
The RSPCA has also got a scheme for chickens used for meat. Their standards can be seen here and stockists can be seen here. Refusing to give factory chicken and pork farmers your business could help make some awesome changes as they are easily the most abused animals in the food industry. If you were going to make one change to your eating to cater to the well being of animals, I'd recommend that this would be it.
Cows (Milk)
I personally had a hard time reconciling my vegetarian ethos with how baby cows are treated in the dairy industry. But, no I am not a soy milk swilling hipster (although the Sanitarium Vanilla Soy milk is really tasty!) Instead of embracing veganism (I feel bad enough forcing my parents to cater for me as is!), I did some research. And in this research, I found a host of 'higher welfare' farms. I personally buy this one as they are the highest welfare (calves are kept with mum, then after a number of months moved to another farm, where they live their entire lives). If that's a bit too bleeding heart for you, then there are a number of other brands on a spectrum, which have been outlined very well in this blog entry. If you take issue with what is being done, just find one you are comfortable with.
Cows (Meat)
If you take issue with how cattle are treated, I recommend you look for grass fed beef. To be absolutely certain you are making the most ethical choice, try googling an ethical butcher (they are everywhere). Abstinence is not the only answer. If you haven't got a problem killing an animal for meat, then this is a really good solution.
Turkeys (Meat)
The RSPCA has a set of guidelines here for their turkeys that addresses the problems I have raised. The stockists of approved turkey can be seen here.
Fish
I'll be honest and say I don't have much expertise in fish, but my suggestion would be to try and get line caught fish, and if buying brand name fish, ask the company (or check out their website) and see what their sustainability policy is. It seems that wild fish are a lot less cruel than farmed fish, but I don't know much about the matter.
Ducks
The RSPCA hasn't got an approval scheme for ducks but I would urge you to at least try and find free range produce.
As for fois gras-I think it is so obvious that it goes without saying-don't. Just don't. With most of what I have written about the problems aren't necessarily with what they are doing, but with the way they are doing it. This is with what they are doing.
This was meant to be a concise outline of some of the problems and ways to address them without necessarily advocating vegetarianism/veganism. I don't think I achieved the concise part, but I think I achieved the rest. I don't mind if people want to kill animals to eat them because I think it can be done without cruelty. I think that stunned slaughter is necessary, and no exemptions should be made for religions on this but that is a different issue.
If you do have a problem killing animals, then maybe meat isn't for you. I might write a subsequent entry or two on vegetarianism and such, but I think I have reached my limit for how much I can talk about animals in one day! For those who have not rage quit yet, and have read this through, thanks. I hope you learned something from it. What you do from now is up to you.
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