Sustianable Farms vs. Industrial Farms

Jonathan Castro
DeVry University

Unfortunately animal abuse is a common theme. When one thinks of animal abuse the first thought might be a dog or cat being mistreated by the owners or not being properly fed. We think of zoo animals being mishandled and we think of circus animals and the brutal and extensive training they endure. I say brutal because many of these circus animals are whipped by their handlers. Seldom do many people think of the torture farm animals go through before their body parts are shipped across the nation to grocery stores. Such harsh treatment to farm animals could be prevented if more people were aware of the living conditions industrial farm animals are placed in and the con’s of buying from a local farm. There is a nationwide epidemic of industrial farms torturing farm animals to be placed at your local grocery store. Beef cattle while in transport spend hours without food and water causing stress, which leads to illness. The cattle are skinned alive before having their throat sliced. Dairy cows wear out very quickly due to the constant stress of having to produce large quantities of milk. The chickens also have it very rough in industrial farms. They are cramped in tight spaces with not even enough room to spread their wings. Many of these chickens, due to the unnatural conditions they are placed in, develop respiratory illnesses among other disorders such as weak bones, which easily break. The hens also go through a process called de-beaking, which is cutting off the beak to prevent pecking and aggressive behavior.
Industrial farm animals are fed antibiotics as a daily supplement. 90% of livestock in Canada are fed antibiotics to promote growth, not for sicknesses. Overuse of antibiotics lead to antibiotic resistant bacteria that threatens the effectiveness of antibiotics used to treat humans. Cattle on the other hand, are fed chicken manure. Their diet is 30% hay and 70% manure. It is a less expensive alternative to using grains and hay. This mixture of manure and hay could contain dangerous bacteria that ends up in ground meat eaten by humans. Industrial farms produce food with excessive use of pesticides and other hazardous chemical inputs. Hormones are given to beef cattle to speed up their growth. Industrial dairy farms also use a hormone called rBGH to increase milk production. Cows injected with rBGH usually suffer from hoof diseases, open sores and internal bleeding.
Livestock in local farms are raised in healthier environments. In local farms animals are well kept and are not cramped up in tight spaces due to there not being a large amount of animals and local farms are smaller in comparison to industrial farms. Sustainably-raised animals are permitted to carry out natural behaviors, whereas, industrial farm animals never even see sunlight. Sustainable farmers understand the importance of protecting the natural environment. Factory farms pollute our air, water, and soil with hazardous gasses and toxic chemicals.
Farm animals are raised on a healthy diet consisting of grains and hay. In industrial farms it is a common practice to feed animals antibiotics to promote growth and to stay alive because they live under such harsh conditions. It is the opposite in sustainable farms; antibiotics are only administered to sick animals. Sustainable farms don’t produce food with excessive use of pesticides and other hazardous chemical inputs. Hormones are not given to animals raised in local farms. This protects human health, animal health, and the natural environment.
The practices and culture amongst sustainable farms and industrial farms are completely different from one another. Local farms offer organic pesticide free animals and vegetables. Local farm raised animals are treated humanely before being slaughtered for food. The land is well kept, free of pollution and dangerous chemicals. Industrial farms are the complete opposite. Animals are tortured before slaughter and are forced to live in cramped conditions without ever seeing sunlight. The land is not well kept, which causes air pollution. The choice is yours, eat meat from industrial farms knowing the animal was brutally tortured and fed an unnatural diet, which can be hazardous to your health, or make a change and purchase from a far more organic farm. The concept of sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals; environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. A variety of philosophies, policies and practices and practices have contributed to these goals, people in many different capacities, from farmers to consumers, have shared this vision and contributed to it. Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Therefore, stewardship of both natural and human resources is of prime importance. Includes consideration of social responsibilities such as working and living conditions for workers, the needs of rural communities, and consumer health and safety both in the present and future A systems perspective is essential to understanding sustainability the system is envisioned in it’s broadest sense, from the individual farm to the local ecosystem, and to communities affected by this farming system both locally and globally. An emphasis on the system allows a larger and more thorough view of the consequences of farming practices on both human communities and the environment. A system approach gives us the tools to explore the inter- connectors between farming and other aspects of our environment. This system approach also implies interdisciplinary efforts in research and education requires not only the input of researchers and from various disciplines, but also farmers, farmworkers, consumers, policymakers and others. For farmers the transition to sustainable agriculture normally requires a series of small realistic steps. Family economics and personal goals influence how fast or how far participants can go in the transition. It is important to realize that each small decision can make a difference and contribute to advancing the entire system further on the “sustainable agriculture continuum” the key to moving forward is the will to take the next step. Finally, it is important to point out that reaching toward the goal of sustainable agriculture is the responsibility of all participants in the system, including the farmers, laborers, policymakers, researchers, retailers, and consumers. Each group has its own part to play, its own unique contribution to make to strengthen the sustainable agriculture community.

Holtslander, C.Get Informed. Retrieved from http://www.beyondfactoryfarming.org/node

IDA. Factory Farming Facts. Retrieved from
http://www.idausa.org/facts/factoryfarmfacts.html