Factory Farming in the U.S.

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Factory farming has changed drastically over past 6 decades. We often believe that our food comes from a peaceful, happy farm, but in reality farm animals are put through misery on a daily basis. Regardless of whether it is an independent farm or contracted farm, livestock is mistreated and then harvested for meat or dairy production. The way production animals are treated on factory farms should change for the safety of the animals and the people who consume them. Animals were once raised in a more humane and sanitary manner, but in the modern age of factory farming, animal cruelty has become common with large farm complexes. In reality these animals are housed in conditions worse than sweat shops. Under these conditions the animals are more prone to contracting illnesses due to the high amounts of bacterial growth. Furthermore, animals are fed sub-standardized feed such as genetically modified corn, which is low in nutrition, and does not contain the animal’s natural and essential dietary needs. In the United States alone, nearly [9] billion farm animals are consumed annually, and the vast majority of them are abused in ways that would cause you to go to jail for.... According to non-profit advocacy group Farm Forward, in the last 70 years cruel, factory farms have grown to the point where they produce more than 99 percent of the domesticated farm animals raised to provide food in the United States.... Three main systems are most exceptionally cruel, gestation crates for pregnant pigs, veal crates for calves, and battery cages for laying hens.... Most animals can’t move because of the tight, cramped spaces causing malnutrition in the bones. [Imagine staying in one spot for the remainder of your life cramped in a pen, or even... ... middle of paper ... ...ety Consequences of Factory Farms." Food Water Watch General. N.p., 27 Mar. 2007. Web. 03 May 2014. . Friedrich, Bruce. "The Cruelest of All Factory Farm Products: Eggs From Caged Hens." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 Jan. 2013. Web. 02 May 2014. . Kaufman, M. (2000). Worries rise over effect of antibiotics in animal feed; Humans seen vulnerable to drug-resistant germs. Washington Post, p. A01. Retrieved from http://www.upc-online.org/000317wpost_animal_feed.html Kristof, Nicholas D. "When Food Kills: [Op-Ed]." The New York Times 12 June 2011: Wk.10. New York Times. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. .

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