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.