We’ve Got Beef

Most of us are familiar with Old McDonald—the man from the nursery rhyme who had a farm. We picture the farm with a stereotypical red barn with hay, a few pigs rolling in mud, horses, and a couple cows out in huge pastures. This romanticized version of the American farm is no longer a reality. Old McDonald’s grandson took over around the time of the industrial revolution and converted the farm into a factory farm. His goal was to become super cost efficient at whatever expense.  

When you hear factory farming, think of huge corporations squeezing as much ‘farm’ as possible onto as little land as possible to create conditions for the most cost-effective meat. These conditions are not only harmful to farm animals, but also to the environment and the people living near or working on the farm. 

On factory farms, animals are kept in anxiety inducing, dirty, and downright abusive conditions.  Female cows are forced to give birth every single year and injected with bovine growth hormones to ensure continuous milk production. Their calves are ripped away from them immediately after birth. This painful cycle continues until they are no longer able to produce milk and are then sent to slaughter houses. On a pig’s journey to a slaughter house they often are paralyzed from lack of room, undergo extreme heat and must breathe in toxic diesel fumes. They may even die on the journey. 

This ethical mistreatment comes even after the fact that research has proven that many farm animals are highly intelligent. Just like us, cows are known to build strong social bonds, and can discern humans from one another. In fact, pigs are the smartest domesticated animals, beating out your family dog for the top spot.  

Not only are animals wholly mistreated at factory farms, but factory farm workers also undergo grueling conditions for paltry wages. On top of having to witness this animal abuse every single day, workers at factory farms are often exposed to ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and dangerous levels of particulate matter. Seven out of 10 factory farm workers at pig confinement facilities experience at least one or more symptoms of respiratory irritation or illness. These health ailments often follow the workers around for the rest of their lives as chronic health ailments.

Because of the nature of the job, many factory farm workers are black and brown migrants who are working to support their families and don’t have another option for income. Factory farms take advantage of these vulnerable workers, knowing they will put up with long hours and grueling conditions for any pay. 

This begs the question: Why have these corporations been able to ‘farm’ this way for so long? The answer, if you know anything about big corporations, is pretty obvious -- lobbying. Big agriculture holds enough power and influence in the government that for years they’ve been able to continue this practice of factory farming. In 2016, big agriculture was able to pass Ag-Gag laws which prohibited undercover reporters from distributing images of the horrifying conditions these facilities create without first acquiring the owner’s consent. This law further blinds the public from the atrocities that occur at factory farms and maintains the sham picturesque idea of a farm much of the American public continues to hold today. 

Factory farms affect everyone -- no matter where you live. Factory farming accounts for 37% of global methane emissions which has an even greater negative impact on climate change than does carbon dioxide. The very nature of factory farming also means that huge amounts of animal waste are being produced in the same, much too small, plot of land. This manure can contaminate our groundwater, damage soil, and destroy aquatic life. The excessive antibiotics injected into factory farm animals also make their way into our bodies and the food chain. Evidently, factory farming has a much larger impact than is possible to measure. 

When the abuse carried out at factory farms affects everybody, it’s time to rethink what costs we’re actually counting in this ‘cost effective’ method of farming. Without regulation, greed runs rampant. We're clearly seeing this play out at factory farms. It’s time to take action. Write to your local congressperson to withstand lobbying efforts and enact regulations that will protect the health and wellbeing of humans and farm animals alike.