Beef - Wasteful, Environmentally Irresponsible, Cruel & Deadly

BEEF: It's what's wasteful: A huge recall of over 210 tons of recalled cow parts is said to be contaminated with deadly e-coli bacteria. 24 illnesses are being investigated by federal officials that may be due to the tainted JBS Swift Beef. Of course the obvious "waste" is in the need to have killed these cows to begin with - because consuming animal flesh is totally unnecessary. But I'd like to point out the secondary wastes involved in this recall. Each pound represents at least 6 times more in grain than what was fed to these cows... There is also the water required... to turn cows into marketable commodities: Over 1,500 gallons of water/pound. Then there was the fuel to transport the grain... then to transport the cows... The electricity to "process" their bodies; then to ship the killed/cut up cow parts, in refrigerated trucks to refrigerated meatcases... All to be shipped somewhere else - to be dumped in a landfill, along with the plastic and cellophane that this garbage was wrapped in... All an enormous waste. Not to go unmentioned, is the huge amount of cow flatulence and poop that contribute to harmful methane gasses. BEEF: IT'S WHAT ENVIRONMENTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE: Meanwhile, JBS is being investigated by the Brazilian government for “bribing of public officials, racketeering, corruption, fraud and collusion,” Greenpece called out the company for knowingly buying cows raised on illegally cleared rain-forest land. In a report titled "Slaughtering the Amazon" the group accused the Brazilian government of being complicit in the illegal destruction of the rain forest due to its hefty funding of the beef industry. Cattle ranching is responsible for about 80 percent of Amazon deforestation.

BEEF: IT'S WHAT'S CRUEL:

Due to extreme heat/drought conditions in Nebraska, thus far over 2200 cows have been found dead. These numbers are likely to climb. Of course, if the livestock/meat industry is growing/killing 6.4 million of these beasts... what's the big deal in a few thousand dying of thirst and dehydration?

If anyone were to leave a dog in a car during the summer, or unprotected in 100 degree temperatures... there would be cause for officials to cite them for "cruelty". Yet, on a feedlot, these "food animals" bear insufferable torment and agonizing deaths, with absolutely no vindication. In fact, since the feedlot owners aren't insured for such losses, the deadstock industry will get federal compensation for these cruelly killed cows, via cruelly sucking off financially taxed Americans, (again).

BEEF: IT'S WHAT'S UNHEALTHY: One of the biggest and most famous "beef" eaters was Dr. Atkins who weighed more than 250 pounds at the time of his death.... The Framingham Heart Study and the recent findings of Dr. T Colin Campbell's China Study, shows that diets high in meat and saturated fat increase risks for heart disease, colon & breast cancer, prostate cancer, rheumatoid arthritis risk, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, obesity, and a shortened lifespan.

Now... remember that little ecoli problem? Sure, you can bbq the poop bacteria out of the beef; but watch out for thoses high levels of cancer-causing heterocyclic amines (HCAs), that are found in grilled animal products! The top five worst foods to grill, according to The Cancer Project and The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine are: chickens, steaks, pork, salmon and burgers.

So... don't be cruel, wasteful or ecologically irresponsible - and don't be unhealthy -

Go Vegan!

More Wasteful Animal Agriculture

Wasteful Poisonous Animal Agriculture

Life is So Cheap When You Eat Meat

End Suffering - Cruel Animal Agriculture - Go Vegan

This little girl in the video is wise beyond her years - Go Vegetarian... Go Vegan.... Please eliminate or reduce your meat consumption... For your health, for the planet - for the animals.

Hey Barbie! Horseracing is Not Vegan - Animals are Not Toys

Barbie is going to the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs is teaming with Mattel to create the Kentucky Derby Barbie.

The plastic-fantastic babe will be dressed for the occasion. Of course, the Derby is where fashion meets horse racing.Kentucky Derby® Barbie® doll commemorates the 135th “Run for the Roses!™” Ready for the winner’s circle, Barbie® doll wears a pretty floral summer sun dress. Accessories include faux pearl necklace, spring sandals and stylish white hat to protect her from the sun!

And what a stylish gal she is!

But considering, there's 3 fatalities everyday on the racetracks, thousands of disappointing foals that are bred for the "sport"... and countless horses that cease to earn the winning purse - That sends these guys right to the glue factory for sure.

And for this occassion Barbie will not to be caught out of vogue with her matching kill floor ensemble that is to die for!

The smart print apron should catch those nasty spills... never soiling her pretty blue frock underneath. Rubber boots and matching blood bucket sold separately...

Putting childish frivolity away, we know that horses, like all living beings are not toys for our amusements. Whether it's the thrill of the track, that playful delight to our tastebuds or the touch of dead fur upon our skin. All animal slaughter is wrong. All of it is needless and all of it... no matter what fashion, style or culture may dictate is ugly, cruel and unnecessary.

Three stages of truth:

• Ridicule
• Violent Opposition
• Acceptance

Respect Life... End speciesism - Go Vegan

Horrible Cruelty is Standard Practice in Animal Ag - Go Vegan

A new Mercy For Animals undercover investigation reveals shocking abuse at New England's largest egg factory farm - Quality Egg of New England (QENE) in Turner, Maine. The hidden camera video shot in early 2009 gives a startling glimpse behind the closed doors of one of the nations leading egg producers, exposing the rotten truth behind battery cage egg production heinous cruelty to animals. I can only call practices like this a sin. But we've seen it time and again on other egg farms where dying birds are left to languish. Or where it is common practice to slam baby pigs against the wall as a method of killing them... or even the familiar scenes of newborn dairy calves being left in wheelbarrows to starve or perish from neglect. This abuse to "food" animals is industry standard, not the exception. The only lives of any "value" are the ones that stay alive long enough to reach the slaughterhouses. And basically two kinds of people work in these sorts of places that treat living beings as garbage. Those who enjoy it and those who hate it. In either case, if you're purchasing animal products, you are supporting a monstrous situation. Indirectly you are hiring such people (who either enjoy animal abuse or who are repulsed by it) to do deeds no civilized person would condone. Thankfully, consumers hold enormous power in ending the exploitation of egg-laying hens. Every time we sit down to eat we can choose kindness over cruelty by adopting a vegan diet.

Drover's Dreary Defense of Murder on a Factory Farm

And on the heals of Death on a Factory Farm... Summing up Drover's flim-flammed efforts of damage control:

Drover's: The bigger issue, of course, is that the film highlights the cultural divide between what is acceptable to livestock producers and what is deemed shocking to our customers.

The "divide" is that once the truth is exposed, livestock production is unacceptable to our culture... Yippee! We're evolving!

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things on a farm that are just not pretty.

We're being placated... Of course "death" is not pretty, but the flippant comparison to this kind of intentional, murderous killing is grotesque.

And people like “Pete” will continue to exploit that in an effort to promote legislation at the state and national levels that will make livestock production more expensive.

Really now, Pete wasn't "exploiting" was he? He simply provided information that was and is rightfully due to your patrons. Information that by the industry's own admission, is important to your customers. What does it say of an industry that criticises efforts to expose these truths? And what do we say of an industry who's only concern is blood money made from cheap meat? I'd say their industry is vile. And that their trickery for profit, is deplorable.

“Death on a Factory Farm” drew attention in an unflattering way to some issues livestock producers face everyday.

"Unflattering"? Boy if that's not marginalizing! "Some issues"... like whether to hang your pig or electroshock at the slaughterhouse? Both are entirely unjustifiable and equally as heinous.

In the end, the judge decided those practices were not illegal.

Of course nothing was illegal - there are no laws! In fact the very lawlessness (and secretiveness) of the "food animal" business is what allows it to exist!

That doesn't make them acceptable.

And I say that the whole of it is unacceptable from the breeding of "food animals" to their butchery.

We must continue to demand a zero-tolerance policy on animal abuse,...

"Demand"? Who are they demanding from? The very business that they are part of... That's shifty. Abuse" = to treat badly - I'd say killing would be defined within that concept. And let's fess up - the whole *meat* industry is about the killing - hangman or stun gun operator - It's what animal agriculture is all about, it's about victims.

and we must work every day as if “Pete” is watching with his hidden camera.

It's not really Pete that Drover's or the meat industry is worried with at all... Pete knows already... He"s seen and formed proper conclusions, he's vegan. No, the industry worries most over those who are watching Pete work and learning from what's on his camera. killer of animals - your product is very disposable... Go vegan

Meat Kids & Slaughterhouses - 4H Animal Child Abuse

Leave it to stories like this that can absolutely destroy an otherwise fabulous day.I'm speaking of an article concerning a 4H animal ag event, a "ham/bacon/eggsale":

The Lincoln County and Cabell Midland High School FFA and 4-H programs brought their meat products to the Pullman Plaza Hotel Friday, March 6, 2009, in what could be the program's last breakfast. In the meantime, a budding relationship between the two programs fosters teamwork and camaraderie. The undeniable smell of bacon (which by the way, smells exactly like human flesh) was the same as last year, and every table was filled with friendly people supportive of a good cause.

Friendly people? Excuse me... advocating the killing and eating of innocent animals... doesn't sound too "friendly" to me.

But unlike last year, an underlying somber mood permeated the room, as some realized that after 21 years the Ham, Bacon and Egg Show and Auction could be toast. (boo-hoo... anyone have a hanky?) Tighter West Virginia Department of Agriculture guidelines regulating educational based meat facilities is requiring the Cabell County Ham Bacon and Egg program (HBEP) to update its classroom at Cabell Midland High School to include meat processing. And that's going to cost a lot of money.

It's always a curiosity that the industry defines blood letting as a "process". If the truthful word is that offensive perhaps they should eliminate the practice?

"Out of 30 educational based food sites, all were in compliance, besides Cabell County," Cabell County Farm Bureau Secretary and Treasurer Thelma Stickler said. Funding must be in place before the Cabell County Board of Education approves the construction of a new facility. The program requires students to purchase and rear an animal. The animal is processed killed and the meat cut. The HBEP Cabell Midland facility does not have a meat processing operation, which means the meat has to be transported from an Ona meat processing plant. "Moving the meat from one place to another creates a risk for meat contamination," Stickler said. The new classroom will be a meat processing operation and not a slaughterhouse, she said.

Now that's good news - that the classroom will not be a slaughterhouse. But a little field trip to witness how the "process" works is in the plan, I'm sure. And oh, the silly worries of meat contamination... can't seem to shake those pesky little bugs! It's almost like nature kind of attaches warning labels just to remind us that animals are not "food".

The program needs $382,000 before October 2009, or this will be the first skipped breakfast in more than 20 years. Some of the students have donated proceeds from their products to the building fund, Stickler said. She is impressed with the students who are in the program, praising their work ethic, which requires them to often give up their weekends and weeknights to bring their product from the field to the auction.

They are bringing "their product" from the field to the auction???... You mean these kids are caring and raising the animal. That's what 4H does right? Children tend to living animals... Beside the obvious needs of shelter, food and water... they groom the animal, comb them, and perhaps even "pet" them. Of course the animal and the child bond... to hear otherwise would be unnatural. Often, the experience ends in heartbreak, tears and despondence.

4H officials, and old pros at this slaughtering business advise that "the first one is the hardest" and that kids will "get used to the *process*". Hey kid! You wanna make money don't ya? Don't want to wuss out and go all girly on us - do ya? The others are doing it... why can't you? What pressures for a kid. It's cruel, like everything else about the meat pushers.

Animal agriculture wants us to hear of the dedication - the "high ground" of the current and future "farmers" who provide safe (wholesome) and abundant *meat products*. I agree that a strong work ethic is to be commended... however, I vehemently challenge the "ethics" of the work... or the healthiness of dead animal flesh...

"Students purchase an animal and take it to the meat processing and packing plant."

Just like that. Kids buy a pig and take it to the slaughterhouse? But didn't the article just brag on their dedication? Giving up free time to tend to the pig? The administrators in 4H would have us believe that the kids just see the animal as a widget. Gosh, the kids I know see all sorts of special qualities in each individual animal... Kids identify with the uniqueness and specialness of a particular animal. They might gravitate to one because she's extra friendly, or cute, or shy, or smart... or funny. But animal agriculture wishes us to believe that it's only the body proportions the kids focus on. No need to look in her eyes - It's her fanny they're after... (right)...

After the meat is cut, the student gets two hams and two bacons. (yep... 2 butts - just like we have) They calculate the salt ratio and do a salt cure. After a drying process, the meats are cured from the salt. After the salt cure, the meat is trimmed so they have a uniform shape. After that final trim, they go into to a smoke house and are smoked for about half of a day.Students polish their bacon and ham and they are judged to see who has done the best trimming and the best cure, and who has picked the best animal with the largest hams.

I bet almost anything these kids would rather pet a live pig than "polish" a dead ham... and if not, you've made them monsters in your own image.

The free enterprise exercise creates opportunities for students to learn real world marketing - (Yep... this little piggy went to the market all right) and business skills. Allison Robinson has been participating in the HEBEP for about 11 years. Her ham was declared a "grand champion ham" at the 2009 show. (Wow)... The Marshall University freshman, majoring in sports marketing with a minor in broadcasting, credits the program for preparing her for her major. "I liked the public relations part of the program because it allowed me to talk to people," Robinson said. (she likes human people... but treats animal people like commodities) Robinson's experience paid off. Her ham brought $1,000 at the auction Friday. (I know this might sound suspicious here... but I've been to auctions - and I can spot a shill. It's also perfectly logical in their motivation... Put some irrationally high price tag on a dead animal part to show the kids that this is where their fortune is to be made... I see right through it and it's sickening.) The Lincoln County FFA Vice President Brittney Kiser appreciates the friendships and teamwork created between Cabell Midland program and Lincoln's. "We're best friends. We do everything together," she said. "We help each other with the Ham Bacon and Egg program, and also work together for the Cabell County Fair. We take all of our FFA trips with Cabell Midland," Kiser said. Cabell Midland student Fallon Black sees the relationship as mutually beneficial, with her school nurturing Lincoln's young FFA program. "We've taken them under our wing. They are our partners in crime," Black said.

"Partners in crime"... finally calling it like it is: "murder".

The new meats facility is projected to cost about $1 million to build, with about $600,000 already donated. A fundraiser is set for March 16 at the Steak and Shake in Barboursville. To donate...

To the 4H groups and all the kiddy animal agriculture programs... Your ilk encourages children to become desensitized. Your animal raising/animal killing lessons numb a future generation from ever connecting with the value and sanctity of life. It spoon feeds them violence and disrespect for beings who have a right to live, regardless of the profits (or tastiness) of their flesh. It normalizes a cruel and unnecessary act.

A wonderful way to raise funds and encourage responsibility for kids is to follow suit in what thousands of schools are now doing. Creating small gardens, planting seeds that nourish in more ways than one. $20 worth of seeds can generate $300 in veggies - without pig poop and without traumatizing kids! And if you think it doesn't matter... that these kids will outgrow the discomfort of the "process" - Stay tuned... I have personal insight of a 40 year old pig farmer who recently opted to be vegan - And that's a story I'll be happy to tell.

Cattle Drug Bust - Meat Industry Transport Corruption

There was a $6 Million drug bust at the Canada/U.S. border which seized 1,746 pounds of high grade marijuana concealed within the floors of a cattle trailer. "Customs officers found hidden under the floor, bundles of "BC Bud", a highly potent form of marijuana cultivated in British Columbia that can sell for $3,500 to $6,000 per pound in the United States." And it's not too surprising that there is this element of corruption within the Animal Ag/Meat Industry... Especially when we know of the human rights and labor law violations. But I think there was yet another wrong committed, slipping silently under the guise of law and justice - that of apathy and (blind) social acceptance. And this is concerns the poor beings within these "livestock" cars and "food animal" transport systems. All who, by the way - get their "humane handling" training from Beef USA. (oh that's comforting isn't it?) As far as the pitiful "welfare" issues these truckers are advised of... according to the USDA's Cattle and Swine Trucking Guide there are all sorts of considerations to make these animals "comfortable" on their journey. Including the amount of time they should be expected to travel without rest/food/water:

" Mature cattle have been delivered in good condition after being carried for as long as 48 hours. However, experienced transporters feel that cattle should not be carried for more than 30 to 40 hours without rest. Generally, feeder calves should not be in transit for more than 34 hours without rest. Swine have been carried for as long as 36 hours without rest."

But what gives here? How does it "depend" on many factors? What happened to the mandates of the generous(1877) 28 Hour Law, which states that the maximum amount of time animals can be hauled without rest is 28 hours?

So, animal ag... meat industry... usda... beef people... livestock vets... pig haulers and cow movers... which is it? Is there a "law" or isn't there? Or could it be that these are the same laws that get flexed, bent and ignored like the other "humane" laws? After all, do we really ever expect to hear a breaking news story reporting that a truck load of pigs or cows was being diverted because they haven't been sufficiently "rested"? Yet... I guarantee you - it happens all the time. Other things that concern me about the blatant lies in livestock transport: There are windchill charts - and warnings that when it's freezing - animals will huddle together... causing the ones at the bottom and middle to be crushed... It also suggests to limit water consumption, so urine does not exacerbate the windchill... All this is meant to be so much more "humane" as they are 18-wheeled to the slaughterhouse...

And in hot weather truckers might sprinkle water on swine during transit, as it "considerably improves performance and slaughter yields." There's more issues concerning ventilation, grouping like animals, grouping pregnant animals, truck sizes, chutes and other technical matters, all revolving around the bottomline of course. And there's the "humane euthanasia" that these truckers are expected to employ. If there is a sick or injured animal - (amongst the 300 or so) the driver is supposed to contact a vet (in the middle of a thousand mile trip) to aid the suffering animal. Or, he's supposed to tend to this animal himself.

R-I-G-H-T... I can just see it now... Joe Truckdriver, delaying the trip by hours to call a vet in an unknown nowhere... OR- stopping his route... risking life/limb to tend to the suffering of number 389-5x cow, or #84q5 pig... That's such crappy-dung! But of course they won't do that - it's not safe and it's not profitable... Just like the bleed rail... nothing shuts it down - Nothing. And here's more about the ins and outs of loading a dying animal on to a truck if it must be transported with the other animals - Fork lifts that could be used... wenches, and so forth - (trying to avoid further injury of course). But doesn't that contradict not proceeding if there's an injured animal? We're not supposed to roll, unless every one's healthy... Right??? Or which is it? Or is it anything that gets your "product" to the market, good enough to be killed. And "alive" enought to be processed into your little greasy sausages and bloody burgers that will do? Animal ag- meat industry... Your driver smuggling in the pot - is rather harmless in comparison to you who openly disregard pitiful "regulations", who offend and openly murder - all under the protection of archaic "law" and public ignorance. Go Vegan

A Vegan's Voice on Animal Agriculture

There's a piece written in the Agriculture's Voice that delights to tell of favorite "things". Of course these "things" all are dead bodies & parts, made from tortured, murdered, INNOCENT, SENTIENT "BEINGS". The article goes on: "there are people who have different tastes." The well chosen word here is "taste", which is an effort to exclude any ethical consideration or debate. It is an attempt to minimize the "choice" not unlike the preference of a blue car over a red one.... or boxers instead of briefs. It continues that vegans have "good intentions" in their lifestyle choices. I agree that an ethic which attempts to avoid as much "unnecessary" harm as possible, is a good thing. Avoiding violence - is a good thing. And Ag's Voice says that they would "never shove meat, eggs or dairy down someone’s throat..." But certainly the meat industries are shoved down ones culture. It is a culture propped by the myth that one "needs" animals to live. Veganism exposes this myth. The article continues: "most farm animals are treated very well." Until they are needlessly killed that is... Even so, let's examine the "kind" treatment to farmed animals:

• Billions of day old "wrong sex" chicks smothered or ground up.
• Searing the beaks of billions of birds.Tail docking, teeth pulling, castration, teat removal, ear tagging, dehorning, ALL without anesthetic.
• Isolation, confinement, force feeding, drugs, artificial light, artificial food, artificial insemination.
• Living in your own waste.
• Unable to move a limb or stretch your wings.
• Unable to socialize or mate.
• Being raped. Being caged. Being tethered.
• Separated from your young at birth.

Animal ag defends that these practices are "in state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facilities"...

True, the dairy cow who has never seen grass, is probably housed in air conditioning. The pig who cannot turn his body is likely to be misted a few times hourly. And the caged chicken lays her miserable eggs on a fast moving conveyor system.

It is all so "civilized" indeed. Animal ag says this is "necessary to protect animals"... "from predators".... Fess up animal ag - it's about profits and units. And your animal killing, meat-eating culture is the animal's worst "predator".

As suggested in this article - I intend to tell all my friends and neighbors and anyone else who will listen about all the things that are done to "food" animals. I am going to send them to see videos. I am going to be a strong advocate for the Movement "afoot" which tells consumers they have other compassionate and healthier choices. I'm going to invite them to question the ethics and "need" of such cruel "choices" to continue. Animal ag is right about one thing: we are not going away. We are going Vegan.

Needless Animal Cruelty - Choose Compassionate Food - Go Vegan

Most people will say that they do not wish to be cruel to animals. Most people will agree that supporting institutions that are responsible for animal suffering is wrong. Sadly, 98% of all suffering endured by animals is in the production of meat, eggs & dairy. So, if one truly wishes to be kind to animals they need not demonstrate against whale hunting, or puppy mills or bullfighting. They need not join an Animal Rights group or picket against circuses or rodeos. They need not even adopt a shelter animal or donate money to any such cause. If one truly wishes to be kind to animal the single most effective thing one can do is to stop buying products made from animals. The very least one can do if they truly wish to be kind to animals is to: Go Vegan.

Crush Films & Hollywood Animal Cruelty - Abuse for Entertainment

Most will agree that causing "unnecessary" cruelty to animals is offensive and unacceptable. That needless suffering to animals goes against their value system of fairness. Although millions thrive as vegetarians and vegan - they still justify that "meat" is "necessary" - they cannot imagine surviving without their steaks, burgers, chickens & bacon... Although there is a universe full of alternatives to "leather" and "fur" - they still buy their leather couches & don coats and jackets made from the skin of other beings... They excuse the use of animals for "food" and "clothing" - seeing no "cruelty" because it is "necessity". (whatever).... But what of animals for "entertainment"? Hardly a person isn't disgusted by the existence of "crush porn" - Few condone fighting roosters or dogs... Many people know of the obvious abuses in rodeos and circuses... But what of mainstream Hollywood? Animal films made by Wildlife Kingdom and Disney? Horses used in westerns and epic films? Chimps in science fiction and comedies?

I think this video here confirms that at the very least, "entertainment" animals are not a "necessity". Nor is their use for our shear amusement "kind" or "cruelty free".

It might be time for us to evaluate what our "modern and civilized" culture is inflicting on innocent animals and how it compares to the bloodthrist of the ancient Romans. Have we really progressed? And if not - isn't it time to do so?

Industry Desperate to Dupe Consumers - Meat Animal Propaganda

So now animal agriculture and the meat industry are doing a documentary to show "the culture of care and compassion" regarding the way animals are made into "food".

Television documentary challenges animal welfare perceptions: "Consumers want to know more about the people who produce their food. "

It is not that people are moving away from knowledge of how meat "food" is produced - it's that they know more now how animal "meat" is made. It's the internet - it's Youtube - it's newspapers. ***********It's stories about caged pigs and hurricanes. It's about crippled cows. It's about horse slaughter. It's about tortured chickens.

It's about law suits from residents who can't drink their water or leave their houses for the contaminated water and stink of the air.....It's the hormones, the pharmacuticals, the rodentcides and pesticides.....It the studies that link "meat" to cancers, diabetes and obesity******** Heck, it's the whole industry people are turning away from - not just the pathetic mistreatment of animals.******And it's not that people don't know "enough" - it's that they know *plenty*.

It's about knowing that it's not neccessary - there is a better way: Go Vegan

BURNING BULLS "TORO DE FUEGO" SPAIN'S SHAMEFUL TRADITION

In Medinaceli, a picturesque town in the province of Soria, Spain, a "tradition" called "Toro Júbilo" brings shame on Spain. On the second weekend in November, balls of pitch (a sticky black substance made from tar or turpentine) will once again be stuck onto the horns of a bull and set on fire. The burning bull is called "Toro de Fuego" (literally "bull on fire"). The bull is then released onto the streets and can do nothing but run around in pain. The bull often smashes into walls in an attempt to douse the fire. The agony the bull must suffer is unimaginable. These fiery balls can burn for hours, and they burn the bull's horns, body and eyes and cause tremendous stress – all while spectators cheer and run around the victim.

Please sign the petition below to stop the sadistic torture of these animals.

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/toro_de_fuego

An Open Challenge to Advocates for Animal Agriculture and Meat Industry

As I posted before - It seems that the animal agriculture and meat industry feel like their views aren't being presented. I find that hard to believe as untold dollars are spent on their behalf through "pork check-off" and "beef check-off" campaigns as well as numerous class activities meant to inform children about animal farming and about the benefit of their dairy & meat products. And lets not forget the constant onslaught of advertising on tv, radio, billboards, etc. I have a difficult time navigating 2 blocks anywhere without a dairy truck or fast-food-meat-menu restaurant... I have attempted on several occasions to contribute comments to Troy Hadrick's blog. The most recent in response to a post he left here at another animal agriculture site whose topic is the PETA Hormel investigation. So all of us... are invited to "share our concerns" with the informed members of the industry. Mr. Hadrick said: "If these allegations are true, this is in no way acceptable behavior. Any person who believes in and practices animal husbandry would not do this to their animals. These rare instances of farm animal abuse do no represent the overwhelming majority of livestock producers who realize how vitally important it is to handle their animals in the proper way. There are a couple of things we should take home from this video. First, it is fortunate that we have the regulations in place to handle abusive situations in this country. If animal agriculture is forced out of this country, most other places don't have the laws in place to prevent and punish this type of behavior. We lose control of how animals are treated if they leave this country. Second, the AP article interviewed the undercover investigator and he said how he had to use all his willpower to not do anything about the alleged abuse. My question to him would be this, was shooting the video more important than stopping the abuse? Was his organization more important than protecting the animal? I believe anyone of us would have stepped in to stop these actions rather than being worried about getting good footage." This is my response: Hello Mr. Hadrick - These actions and abuses ceased to be "allegations" once the footage was made. You saw... the lame and cripple pigs, the ones who couldn't stand... the ones dragging their hind quarters paralyzed from a life of brutalities... The brutalities in the chain of animal "husbandry", "animal agriculture", factory farming, feedlots, hog barns, poultry houses, livestock trucking, stockyards, "packing houses" then finally the knocking box... This is the chain "domestic use" "food" animals are in. (Not unlike the Hallmark fork-lifted, water-boarded cows)... Little concern is given to these beasts... They are commodities and there's bottom line and all that... As long as the whole (hog, poultry, dairy/cow) barn makes a profit, there's little grief over the "expected" and acceptable rate of mortality of a few dozens/hundreds "individuals". These animals are bred, grown, finished, slaughtered and packaged as lickity-split as can be. You say (as a representative of the industry) that if the animal ag industry were to be forced out of the country - we will have "no control" in the way of their (better) treatment"... In other words, it's these "generous" laws and regulations that exist here in the good old "Humane Slaughter-Act of the U.S.D.A." that insures these (food) animals will "continue" to be treated "kindly"... before (and during) their slaughter... I'm sure these "food" animals are very thankful for your concerns... moments before and during their slaughter... Stopping this video for the pig's (cow's or chicken's) "protection" is misinforming... Her "protection" has been denied to her thousands of years ago when she was first claimed as "property". Man's "use" and man's "need" trump all her interests, all-the-time, ever since. This video simply documents a nano-moment in the animal "husbandry" business. Hers was the sad fate of billions before her... and untold billions to come... And finally, I commend you for having such high views of your institution and your colleagues... But if any of you were really *serious* about stopping abuse you would never, ever be in the line of business you're in and you certainly wouldn't be chowing down on pieces of flesh that used to be their bodies. The entire animal/"food"/meat industry thrives on smoke and mirrors. It perpetuates myths with government grants, subsidies, tax incentives and of course... the government is the meat industry's largest customer as well... so that's enough about who's guarding the hen-house. I have been on your blog site several times Mr. Hadrick... I've left civilized, mannerly comments and replies to your postings - yet you have always declined permission for my response. This (censorship) seems typical of the animal agriculture industry thus far. I will continue this conversation further on my blog - along with an open challenge to any/all representatives of the "animal husbandry" field. All are welcome to contribute views on my site. Stay tuned for more invitations to the animal agriculture and meat industry... I really would love to have an open debate to insure that every one's views are heard.

Florida's Ban on Caged Pigs Finally Takes Effect

In 2002 I voted on the initiative to ban gestation crates for pigs. I was not a vegan then... In fact, I didn't even fully understand what the bill was about - I also had never heard of a "factory farm" till many years later. Just goes to show - in my mind, even then - the very idea of keeping animals in cages was repugnant.

So 6 years hence, Florida's pregnant pigs won't be forced to live in cages any longer. As a result the 2 existing pig farms have decided to pack their bags and leave the state, rather than comply to the "new" regulations. HOORAY! Don't let the door hit you in the ass! GO - LEAVE - Scram!!! The state will be much better off without your prisons - There will be less trucking of the little porcines to the slaughterhouses... there will be less water waste "processing" your pig "food" products. There will be less impact on our deteriorating water ways. There will be less second-hand violence encouraged by how your employees treat animals they are "caring for".

On behalf of all of Florida - Good Riddance. And thank you Animal Rights of Florida Foundation for fighting so hard 6 years ago making this campaign successful!

In a predictable fashion the piggy people aren't happy about it... Well tough uncaged sow titties to you!

Needless to say - the best way to avoid all this unnecessary cruelty to animals is to go vegan!