Improve the Treatment of Factory Farm Animals
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I support improved conditions in factory farms by raising the minimum amount of space laying hens are allowed in factory farms, banning gestation crates for sows, banning the feeding of corn to cows, and banning tail docking in all states.
I support legislation saying that by 2017 each laying hen in America gets 324 square inches (1.5 square feet) of space to itself. This is a major improvement for the lives of laying hens because they will be less stressed. As a result of this, they will no longer harm each other or rub against the bars of their cage, actions which resulted in very painful injury. If the chickens are not harming each other, then that will also mean that their beaks will not have to be clipped, a practice which is very bad for the chicken. Also, since chickens will not be suffering as much as they do now, they will not have to be given as much drugs as they are given today.
Also, I support complete elimination of gestation crates by 2015. If gestation crates are eliminated completely from factory farms, it ensures that pregnant sows will not have to be confined to cages only slightly bigger themselves, in which they can barely move. As a result, the pregnant sows will be much less stressed. If these sows were at least allowed to walk around freely, they would not be as bored or stressed.
A solution I propose as well is to completely abolish feeding of corn to cows by 2030. This will be a huge improvement for the lives of cows on factory farms, because there are many consequences to feeding cows something they are not supposed to eat. Since cows can get a variety of diseases from eating corn, and corn-fed beef is not as good for you as grass fed beef, this regulation would be an improvement for both the consumers and animals.
Also, I support improving the conditions in factory farms by abolishing tail docking everywhere by 2015. This would be an advancement in the cows’ conditions because tail docking, or removal of the tail, is done without anesthesia. It also does not do any good for cows who have undergone the procedure, and only causes them stress and pain.
These proposals to help improve inhumane farm animal conditions in factory farms do not only benefit the farm animals, but they also benefit the consumers. If factory farm animals are given less drugs, consumers of the products of those farm animals will take in less drugs through their food. Also, consumers will be less at risk from meat that is unsanitary or infected, since animals will be living in better conditions.
If these changes are put into effect, there will be many benefits. The lives of thousands upon thousands of farm animals will be greatly improved, and the meat these animals bear will be better for consumers. Cleaner meat has a lower chance of being infected with various viruses. If animals have a lower chance of getting diseases, antibiotics will not have to be used as frequently in farms as they are now, and that will reduce the chance of an antibiotic resistant virus being created within a farm. Humane food today costs considerably more money than factory farm food, but if all the factory farms became more humane, some economies of scale and competition may bring down prices for humane food. Also, if this is put into effect, humane food would be available in every supermarket.
For these changes to take place, the public needs to take action. There need to be advocates for the cause, that have bills drafted and petitions made and signed. If people call their congressmen and try to get bills to help the situation considered by Congress, these standards could be made into federal law. If Congress does not act, then people can petition their state government and get laws passed on a state level. Administrative agencies can turn the laws into precise regulations. Farmers will then begin to phase out of the old systems they were using to run their farms, so that they can follow the law, and soon the conditions in factory farms will be much improved. But this is only achievable if we all try to get these laws passed.
Links
For more information:
SustainableTable.org - Animal Welfare
SustainableTable.org - Human Health
Humane Society - Video of hens in a factory farm
Humane Society - Video of pigs in gestation crates
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