The meat factories

So what exactly is factory farming? This may seem strange, but the webster’s dictionary has a word meaning for this. It goes, “a system of large-scale industrialized and intensive agriculture that is focused on profit with animals kept indoors and restricted in mobility”. When they say restricted in mobility, they really do mean it.

Cruelty at the max

I’m not exactly a vegan, or an animal rights activist, but when i got to know exactly what was happening, I am seriously reconsidering. We cannot dismiss factory farming as a western trend which is of no concern to us. Our meat factories are just hidden better. Ever heard the term broiler chicken? Its a breed of chicken and turkey which are bred especially for meat and eggs. They abound in steriods which can cause serious health issues to us. In fact, the greatest percentage of meat products which are commercially available belongs to this category. And since India is seriously lacking in animal rights activists, they flourish. There is no one to bring them to the limelight.

So what exactly is the factory farming practice?

Consider raising animals in such a way that they are cruelly confined to extremely congested spaces. The main goal, is to raise as much meat, dairy and poultry products as possible. Now this actually works. The amount of net food produced was nearly doubled in the US. It is easier to manage a huge flock of animals when they are confined in such a manner. So resources needed are less. The result-nearly double the amount of food for reduced cost. Egg-laying hens get their beaks cut off to prevent them from pecking each other. Laying a large amount of eggs can severley affect their bodies. Female pigs(sows) are treated like pig making factories. Dairy farms use steriods on cows to increase the milk yield. Even fish are farmed in such a manner.

The negative aspect.

Its easy to sum up the advantages. So now lets take a look at the cons.

The health risk- When we put a large no of animals in such close proximity, we are exposing them to the worst health conditions. A variety of diseases are afoot, including the avian flu, the BSE or mad cow disease and what not. And the chances for the disease spreading are increased manyfold when they are reared at close proximity. When we risk the health of these animals, we risk our own. And we consume meat that is stuffed with steriods. This is not fair-not for us, and especially not for these animals. So, if you believe that their health does not matter, think again.
Farming Ethics- How would you feel if you were part of a crowd who was getting ready to be slaughtered? Stuffed into vehicles in such a manner that you cant turn around, move or even breathe freely. Fed chemicals that degenerate your every tissue, while making you look plump and healthy. If you dont like such an environment, then neither will these animals. They too are living, and not just objects that can end up in your plate one day. They too have feelings like you or me. So what motivates us to be so cruel to them?

What we can do.

Surprisingly, we can do a lot.

Become an activist for PETAIndia. PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatement of Animals. Go to the activism page of PETA India and see how you can contribute. They can help you in matters involving organisation of groups and debates to providing healthy vegan recipes.
The best course of action would be to be a vegan or a vegetarian, but for those who cannot(like me), try to use organic meat or dairy products as far as possible. They are available in every supermarket and might cost more, but think of the cause you are striving for.
Try to organise a animal rights group. Visit a factory farm near you and see what happens there.

Being humans we are empowered to do many things. So why not dedicate some time and effort for a better cause. And in the process, be a better human being.