USDA being sued by HSUS

[Settin'_Pretty]

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Oh that IS sad, because I would have gotten around to them sooner or later.
Thank you.

 

[KrisRose]

We do need factory farms. Yes, alot of people would starve without them. Not just beef and chicken. But wheat, fruits, and vegies. Its sad, but there is just not enough small farms anymore.
The only thing that can be hoped for is humane treatment of these animals right up to their deaths.

 

[MTtroutwithwings]

Settin'_Pretty :

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A person who doesn't eat any animal products is referred to a VEGAN
We're considered Lacto-Ovo vegetarians.

WOW, all these new words to add to my vocabulary.
I always thought a vegetarian was someone who ate VA-GET-ABLES
I wonder what John the Baptist would be called in todays society, a locusarian perhaps?

Ok, ok...how about, your a carivore, I thought I was a herbivore, but since I do E&M
I settle for Omnivore!

 

[Badhbh]

I have nothing against the *idea* of factory farming, It's the execution of it that gets me all steamed up. The treatment of the animals is abhorrent. Terrible. Awful. It makes me want to go vegan for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, that isn't possible. I'd love to eat free range organic animal products. Those cost WAY too much though. There's the rub- I woudn't have ANY problems with industrial farming if it meant that the animals were treated humanely, and I could KNOW that my food was treated with respect before it became dinner. I don't like knowing that my chicken dinner lived it's life in a 1x1foot cage with 4 other birds, with no fresh air and never seeing the sun. That makes me really uncomfortable. Honestly, i'd rather pay .50 or $1.00 more for meat that I knew had a life free from pain and misery.
There's nothing wrong with industrial farmING. There IS however something wrong with industrial farmS. Stricter regulations, closer monitoring, and a little compassion (if that's not too much) needs to be put in place. I think everyone would benefit in the long run.

 

[MTtroutwithwings]

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....well put!

 

[Princessferf]

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Well put.

No matter what is done by the government to regulate these factory farms, there will always be abuses and problems.

The key is to help educate consumers about the alternative food sources available to them. Buying locally grown/produced food doesn't have to be more expensive than the mass-produced options.

When given an opportunity, I always make mention of all the other options out there for food sources and encourage people to support their local economy. I do see trends happening in my area where people are caring more about where their food comes from. Our local farmer's market in the summer is PACKED and many of the farmers sell out the items they bring, especially items that aren't available from every other farmer (like mushrooms, eggs, meat and speciality vegetables).

 

[Princessferf]

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I agree with you... but the problem lies in the attitude of those running and employed at those factory farms. They don't view animals as a living being, simply a crop to be harvested. No matter the regulations in place, if the people managing and working those factory farms cannot respect the animal giving its life for our consumption, then nothing will change.

And to that point... if you were working in a factory farm and had to do the things that are needed to take a living animal and process it into steaks/chops/ground beef, wouldn't you have to distance yourself mentally from the animal? (I am not condoning their actions at all, I'm trying to understand the situation they are in. It is not a job that I could do.)

 

[Badhbh]

Actually I don't think I *would* distance myself. I think i'd have to do my own little part, no matter how small) to make that animals' life better.. I know I wouldn't be able to make much of a difference, and maybe it's the pagan in me coming out, but I think my little contribution would at least help add to the life somehow. Distancing yourself doesn't have to be disrespectful. You can do what needs to be done without harming the animal, treating it cruelly, or contributing to the attitude that they're "just animals".

 

[meriruka]

Settin'_Pretty :

I'm not a vegetarian, and have no desire to become one.
Why is a vegetarian posting on a chicken forum since you obviously don't eat eggs and chicken?

Some of us don't see FOOD when we look at our chickens.The same way most Americans don't see food when they look at cats & dogs. EVERY TYPE of person regardless of their personal beliefs has a right to post on this forum about chickens.​

 

[Settin'_Pretty]

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Some of us don't see FOOD when we look at our chickens.The same way most Americans don't see food when they look at cats & dogs. EVERY TYPE of person regardless of their personal beliefs has a right to post on this forum about chickens.

Yep, you're right, but I also have the right to ask questions to try and get a feel for where someone is coming from, which I did, and I felt comfortable with the answer I got, so was your post just a troll?