Policy Paper

"What is it that should trace the insuperable line? ...The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?"
Jeremy Bentham, philosopher

Members of Congress,
You have gathered today to address the issues concerning the treatment of our nation’s livestock. I felt that this issue had to be attended to by an audience with as much authority as possible. Only you have the privilege to help change American society for the better by proposing more government involvement and regulatory laws dealing with the issue at hand. The existing laws regarding animal cruelty in slaughter houses are few and far between. The Government has only passed one law concerning the rights of animals in slaughterhouses, the Humane Slaughter Act (HMSLA), which solely focuses on the remaining minutes of an animal’s life rather than how they are treated throughout. Surprisingly, “Animals on today's factory farms have no legal protection from cruelty that would be illegal if it were inflicted on dogs or cats” (goveg p1). Limitations need to be enforced on the industrialization of livestock in order to save them from dying in ways unsuitable for any living being. Factory Farms are disregarding the safety and compassion towards their animals in exchange for less costly methods of execution, which ultimately end up causing the animals’ extreme pain and suffering. Additionally Federal subsidies need to be made for healthy foods so that the general population is more inclined to purchase healthy vegetable and fruit products that would save the lives if these animals. Finally, the minimum wage should be raised in order to keep the factory farm workers motivated to treat the livestock with kindness and compassion.
Limitations on the industrialization of livestock should be made. Factory farms need to decrease the number of animals in order to help stave off illness and disease such as cases of “Nipah in 1999, SARS in 2002 and the current epidemic of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which has so far caused the death of nearly 200 people” (fao.org). Due to the massive quantity of livestock kept in each small facility, it is much easier for viruses and pathogens to spread, making the animals more susceptible to contracting diseases. Additionally, “Animals are exposed to pesticides and other unhealthy additives through their feed, and they are often bred and fed so as to produce unnatural amounts of eggs, milk or meat. (Sustainable Table). Obviously, the quality of life in slaughter houses is poor, as well as the quality of food, and something needs to be done.
Currently, “Our food system is shot through with corn. It feeds the animals that feed us: more than 50 percent of the harvest goes into domestic animal operations. (Philpot)” The Factory Farms are purchasing cheap feed from companies which in turn affect the health of the animals (making them sickly or prone to illness), and therefore the health of the consumer is put at risk as well. Federal subsidies should be made for healthy and nutritious food, which would enable easier access for the animals to obtain, and in the long run, maintain a proper diet. Healthy livestock and cattle will be able to produce higher quality grade of meat, milk and eggs.

Besides the fact that a corn-based diet lacks nutritional value for livestock, Americans are experiencing the negative effects as well. A stalk of corn, which starts out extremely wholesome is processed and refined until it is turned into corn syrup (high fructose corn syrup). This ingredient is found in most packaged goods and is highly prevalent in the majority of many American diets. It aids in the addition of numerous unnecessary calories that continue to expand our hefty waist-line. Making federal subsidies for healthy food is a simple way to encourage an affordable, well-balanced diet for everyone, animals and Americans alike.

Raising the minimum wage will increase a factory farm workers drive to succeed and thrive in his or her working environment. Currently, minimum wage is $5.85. Getting by on a living of that amount of money per hour can have extremely negative effects on workers’ attitudes. Most of the men and women hired to work in the slaughterhouses often are uneducated, with little knowledge of the English language and how to humanely kill an animal. They are usually overworked and underpaid, and sometimes they are even abused. They are expected to slaughter animals at a rapid pace and are threatened with the loss of their job if they fail to meet the set number of animals killed for that day. The stress of their job along with the fact that they are being paid little to nothing for their work sometimes causes the workers to take out their frustration on the livestock. Guidelines have not been set for what “acceptable” farming practices entail. HMSLA (Humane Slaughter Act) states that, “Farmers are generally free to handle these animals in whatever manner they choose, regardless of the degree of suffering that results, so long as it is claimed to be an acceptable or customary practice” (Humane Slaughter Act). Laws should be passed and instituted so that factory farm workers must agree to a cruel-free contract, pass an adequacy test and receive proper training on how to care for, handle and butcher livestock in an appropriate manner.
In conclusion, animal welfare in factory farms needs to be reevaluated. “Last year alone, the suffering…was endured by, and ended with the deaths of, more than 100 million pigs, 40 million cows and calves, 3.5 million sheep and lambs, and tens of thousands of other species of ‘livestock’ animals” (Humane Slaughter Act). The methods by which they are kept, fed and cared for need to change. The solutions previously stated can reasonably be achieved if we try all we need is to have a little compassion.

Annotated Bibliography

Coats, David C. Old MacDonalds Factory Farm: the Myth of the Traditional Farm and the Shocking Truth About Animal Suffering in Today's Agribusiness. New York: Continuum, 1989.
This book specifically looks at how the treatment of animals has changed in the last decade and what we can do to make a difference. The harsh treatment of animals is openly discussed without any bars held. The truth and reality of how animals are treated today is devastating and some of these methods are being used even on family owned farms.
"Cruelty to Animals: Mechanized Madness." GoVeg. 4 Dec. 2002. PETA. 15 Oct. 2007 .
This website discusses the treatment of animals in modern day culture and how the methods of farming have changed from the past. It also talks about how animals on farms don’t have the same rights given to dogs and cats and therefore can be treated entirely different. It discusses how the animals are fed and what they are fed in order to maximize output and production of meat and eggs.
Dulany, Liz. Killing Animals. Chicago: University of Illinois, 2006.
The board of trustees animal studies group at the University of Illinois wrote this book. They focus mainly on the different ways of killing animals and what the animal parts are used for. As well as discussing the negative impacts of industrial farming it also draws attention to the positive ones. For instance, industrial poultry farming minimizes land use because of the amount of chickens that are able to be fit into one area.
"Factory Farming Implicated in Emerging Human Diseases." HSUS. 17 Sept. 2007. The Humane Society of the United States. 16 Oct. 2007 .
Upon closer consideration new studies have found that the conditions that we are keeping our livestock in are the breeding grounds for new diseases. This article discusses that if we begin to eat less poultry we could potentially reduce infection that could lead to the influenza virus. By separating the livestock into smaller groups and giving them larger areas to live in, it would create a much safer and healthier environment.
"Factory Farming." Wikipedia. 6 Oct. 2007. Wikimedia Foundation. 8 Oct. 2007 .
This source reveals in depth information on the cruelty of slaughterhouses and the disturbing methods that are sometimes used to kill the animals. It also lists the aspects of factory farming as well as the diseases that can be spread due to improper care and cleanliness.
Fraser, David. "Animal Welfare and the Intensification of Animal Production." F.a.O. 2005. 10 Oct. 2007 .
This website instituted by the food and agriculture organization of the United Nations (fao), discusses the traditional ethical ideas about animal care and how they have become skewed in the past years. The overproduction of animals being used for food has had a vast impact on the cost efficiency and usefulness of the meat. It also discusses some of the causes linked to the multiplication of factory farms and why America needs them.
Humphrys, John. "Why the Organic Revolution Had to Happen." The Observer 21 Apr. 2001. 10 Oct. 2007 .
This take place. It looks into cases of disease caused by food born illness as well as the affects of mad cow disease. Some Factory Farm animals are being fed food that ahs the remains of other livestock in it because it is full of protein. This method is what caused the mad cow disease epidemic in Britain a couple years ago.
Johnson, Andrew. Factory Farming. Cambridge: Oxford University, 1991. 1-272.
This book discusses livestock factories and how the harsh treatment of their animals is effecting the production of the meat and eggs. It shows how this negative treatment reflects on the animal’s abilities to thrive and reproduce in a healthy manner. Although it is cheaper to produce food this way, is it really worth it? Does the cost efficiency make it ok?
Lucas, Caroline. "Head to Head: Intensive Farming." BBC News 6 Mar. 2001. 12 Oct. 2007 .
Transmission of disease is extremely easy due to our new system of global food distribution. Vaccination could possibly be an answer to this problem. This article gives the debate on this issue; weather factory farming or natural farming has a worse effect on the spread of disease.
"Linda McCartney Quotes." Brainy Quote. 2007. Brainy Media. 8 Nov. 2007 .
Schmidinger, Kurt. "Animal Welfare/Animal Rights." Future Food. Oct. 2007. 13 Oct. 2007 .
This website discusses the cruelties related to animals that are involved in factory farming. It also gives other alternatives to animal products by listing dairy free products as well as egg and meat alternatives. By sustaining from eating meat we will be able to save animals world wide and lead to the end of the factory-farming era.
"Update: Pennsylvania Court Finds That Animal Abuse on Egg Factory Farm is Legal." Cok. 1 Jan. 2007. Compassion Over Killing. 16 Oct. 2007 .
A case is discussed in which a farmer in Pennsylvania was charged with abuse to his chickens on his farm. He was brought to court and the judge dropped the charges, practically rewriting the animal rights laws in Pennsylvania. Farm animals practically have no rights what-so-ever and can be treated in any way that there owner pleases. If these animals had been dogs or cats, their owner would have been convicted. Farm animals have a huge double standard against them.
Waldau, Paul. A Communication of Subjects: Animals in Religion, Science and Ethics. New York: Columbia UP, 2006. 1-686.
This book discusses the treatment of animals in different religions and the methods of slaughter used on those animals. Some religious ways of killing animals are extremely painful and have many animal rights groups up in arms. It also discusses how animals on farms are viewed by law and debates weather or not they should have the same rights as domesticated pets.

Behind Closed Doors

The safety of our nation’s livestock has recently been brought into the public’s eye. Many of the methods of killing these animals are questionable and may need to be reevaluated. Many animal activist groups such as PETA feel that something needs to be done in order to save these animals from dying, while factory farmers feel that the killing of livestock is perfectly suitable for our dominantly carnivorous society. The government has been pressured to choose one side but continues to reflect moderate views. This ongoing struggle for animal rights continues to linger in today’s society as patrons debate weather to fight for the safety of animals or to presently accept the disputed process of the slaughter house.
On the left wing of this debate is PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals), an organization devoted to protecting animal rights. PETA has over 1.8 million members and supporters and is still continuing on the rise. In PETA’s own investigations, they have found many factory farms that have exemplified acts of cruelty: In an earlier investigation, for example, PETA documented farm workers killing pigs by dropping cement blocks on their heads. A later incident was additionally noted where farm workers first beat a pig with a wrench, thinking that they had killed her, and then proceeded to slice off her skin and hack off her leg with a saw as she cried out in pain (Humane Slaughter Act). PETA has documented numerous acts of cruelty directed toward livestock just as gruesome as or worse than the one previously stated above. Upon further research I have found many graphically worded documentations of animal cruelty reported by PETA including instances where hooks were attached to the ears of pigs before they were dragged to different holding facilities (Humane Slaughter Act). Since 1980 PETA has fought for animal rights, petitioning for their safety, relieving them from suffering and ensuring their humane treatment (“Cruelty to Animals: Mechanized Madness”).
The government has shown favoritism to both sides of this debate. The government has recently passed one law concerning the rights of animals in slaughterhouses, the Humane Slaughter Act (HMSLA), which focuses solely on the remaining minutes of an animal’s life rather than how they are treated throughout. Surprisingly, “Animals on today's factory farms have no legal protection from cruelty that would be illegal if it were inflicted on dogs or cats” (“Cruelty to Animals: Mechanized Madness”). In December of 2001, PETA sent a petition to the United States Department of Agriculture in response to this dilemma, asking them to comply with the mandates of the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act, “The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act makes no provision for such limited application and so must be applied to the slaughter of livestock at, including those diseased, injured, underweight, or otherwise unhealthy or "unprofitable" animals killed on "farms" and at other livestock facilities “ (wikipedia p2). PETA asked the government to apply humane methods of slaughtering animals at all slaughterhouse locations from the time they arrive until their death.
Dwight D. Eisenhower passed the first version of this bill in 1958. It was updated in 1978 where factory farm inspectors were allowed to stop the slaughtering line if they noticed that cruelty was taking place. However, this method eventually ended when the United States Department of Agriculture stopped authorizing inspectors to stop the line because it was “wasting” too much time. Fortunately, in 2002 President George W. Bush passed the Farm Bill, which fully enforced the HMSLA. Peter Fitzgerald noted that this action must be taken because of other incidents that have flown under the government’s radar, “"the government took no action against a Texas beef company that was cited 22 times in 1998 for violations that include chopping hooves off live cattle" (Washington Post). The majority of factory farms take nothing into consideration when killing their livestock, it “has led to institutionalized animal cruelty, massive environmental destruction and resource depletion, and animal and human health risks” (factory farming p1).
On the other hand, the FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service), “is conducting a correlation review process of humane slaughter activities at federally inspected meat and poultry plants” (Key Facts: Humane Slaughter). FSIS inspection personnel are taking appropriate measures by enforcing responsibilities and reviewing regulations at these factory farms. Additionally, slaughter line inspectors and veterinarians are now being employed to factory farms in order to ensure that every federally inspected slaughter establishment complies with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. Although improvements have been made by reinforcing these laws there is much more to be done, including having set requirements for the workers in these factories.
Most of the men and women hired to work in the slaughterhouses often are uneducated, with little knowledge of the English language and how to humanely kill an animal. They are usually overworked and underpaid, and sometimes they are even abused. They are expected to slaughter animals at a rapid pace and are threatened with the loss of their job if they fail to meet the set number of animals killed for that day. The stress of their job, along with the fact that they are being paid little to nothing for their work, sometimes causes the workers to take out their frustration on the livestock. Although many other guidelines for factory farms have been set, guidelines have not been set for what “acceptable” farming practices entail. HMSLA states that, “Farmers are generally free to handle these animals in whatever manner they choose, regardless of the degree of suffering that results, so long as it is claimed to be an acceptable or customary practice” (Humane Slaughter Act). Laws should be passed and instituted so that factory farm workers must agree to a cruel free contract, pass an adequacy test and receive proper training on how to handle and butcher livestock in an appropriate manner.
“Last year alone, the suffering…was endured by, and ended with the deaths of, more than 100 million pigs, 40 million cows and calves, 3.5 million sheep and lambs, and tens of thousands of other species of "livestock" animals” (Humane Slaughter Act). By becoming vegetarian or cutting down on one’s consumption of meat products, the lives of many animals could be saved. “If slaughter houses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian” (Linda McCartney). Unfortunately, in a society concerned with quantity rather than quality, most Americans sweep their emotions under the table and reach for their hamburger and fries.

The cruelty and harm that is inflicted upon our nations livestock has recently been brought into the public’s eye. Some of the torturous methods of killing these animals are unimaginable and something needs to be done in order to save them from dying in ways unsuitable for any living being. Factory Farms are disregarding safety and compassion towards their animals in exchange for less costly methods of execution, which ultimately end up causing them extreme pain and suffering.
Factory workers are the cause of the cruelty inflicted upon these animals.Most of the men and women hired to work in the slaughterhouses often are uneducated, with little knowledge of the English language and how to humanely kill an animal. They are usually overworked and underpaid, and sometimes they are even abused. They are expected to slaughter animals at a rapid pace and are threatened with the loss of their job if they fail to meet the set number of animals killed for that day. The stress of their job along with the fact that they are being paid little to nothing for their work sometimes causes the workers to take out their frustration on the livestock. Guidelines have not been set for what “acceptable” farming practices entail. The Government has only passed one law concerning the rights of animals in slaughterhouses, the Humane Slaughter Act (HMSLA) which solely focuses on the remaining minutes of an animal’s life rather than how they are treated throughout. In order to resolve these problems the Government needs to take action. New laws need to be made and enforced in order to save these animals. By doing so, this solution will appease all parties involved including PETA and other animal rights groups. It is the simplest and most effetive method. Passing certain laws requireing all factory workers to take training couses and pass exams will help to keep the livestock in the factories safe and properly taken care of.

Cruelty in Slaughter Houses

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