Chickens, Tornado-Trophies and Other Twisted Ironies

This sea of white feathers and dead bodies is a scene from the devastation left by recent tornadoes in Mississippi. The article headline says "scores" of chickens were killed.  Then it continues that out of more than 220,000 birds "few remain alive". I'm not going to nit-pick this little inconsistency - But it's there. And this isn't the only "poultry" facility that's been destroyed. Tyson owns around 1,500 such warehouses in Miss. alone.

According to Meatingplace Tyson Foods has deployed cook teams to help feed the relief workers left to clean up the debris and corpses. The irony here of course is being surrounded by carcasses and eating them at the same time. It would be so helpful if Tyson served vegan meals instead. But you know that's not going to happen...

I landed on this other image at Weather.com as I was checking to make sure folks I love in the mid-west were okay... They were and are - Thankfully. But this scene struck me on so many levels... There's an irony to a trophy deer head that survives a twister, but whose body was ravaged by a single shot... There's also something perverse in wanting to save such an item that represents such loss. Loss from the sad killing and loss from the vicious storm. 

I also think what it must be like for countless nonhumans everyday whose habitat and homes are devastated by bulldozers and other razing machinery... And those who dodge bullets and live in fear of the human-made destruction. Surely we have made a wicked world for them. :/

Now all this is not to say that I don't have profound sympathy for human loss as well. Every which way it's tragic and that's just my point. With all that is unfair in life; With all that is unkind and violent in nature... Do we have to add to it? 

You can do so much to reduce and avoid the twisted harms in life by simply living as an ethical vegan. Thanks and safety to those who are living in such a way. 

What's Fur Got To Do With Love?

The clip below was posted by vegan advocate Jordan Wyatt who is a member of the Invercargill Vegan Society and who hosts the podcast Co-existing With Nonhumans Animals.

The debate on Prime Time Irish TV show asks whether it makes any difference whether we kill animals for the skin or for their meat?

And as Jordon observes this woman who grew up on a "fur farm", actually makes a case for Veganism.

She also makes it clear that the way these farmers "love" their animals is no different than the way others who "use" nonhumans "love" their animals too!



You'll be convinced at her "love" ten seconds in, when she giggles before acknowledging that she has skinned the minks as well.
It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it! Upton Sinclair

At thirty seconds she says that this can't be cruel because there's 1400 fur farmers in Denmark. She rhetorically asks "How can they justify it if they thought it was cruel?" 
If one person is unkind to an animal it is considered to be cruelty, but where a lot of people are unkind to animals, especially in the name of commerce, the cruelty is condoned and, once large sums of money are at stake, will be defended to the last by otherwise intelligent people. -Ruth Harrison

"They LOVE their animals!"

According to her because they do this job everyday, they can't possibly not "love" those animals. 
Whenever people say, ‘We mustn’t be sentimental,’ you can take it they are about to do something cruel. And if they add, ‘We must be realistic,’ they mean they are going to make money out of it." - Brigid Brophy

She states the "love" these farmers have throughout the breeding and skinning seasons... 
People who claim to "love" animals while paying workers to harm and kill animals for their enjoyment are frankly delusional. I sure hope none of these people ever "love" me. - Jo Tyler

She concludes that there is no difference between "loving" these fur animals or "loving" the animals used for meat, milk and eggs. She's certainly right there... 
There is no moral distinction between fur and other materials made from animals, such as leather, which also is the result of the suffering and death of sentient beings. - Gary L. Francione 

In her mind it's all okay because we've always done it. "It's in our nature."
In the course of his development towards culture man acquired a dominating position over his fellow-creatures in the animal kingdom. Not content with this supremacy, however, he began to place a gulf between his nature and theirs. He denied the possession of reason to them, and to himself he attributed an immortal soul, and made claims to a divine descent which permitted him to annihilate the bond of community between him and the animal kingdom. - Sigmund Freud 

Their "love" it appears, is all about the devotion of confining these animals in tiny cages, denying them of their freedom, their babies and eventually - their hides and their lives. 

But of course this MUST be "love"... Of money.
Our economic order is tightly woven around the exploitation of animals, and while it may seem easy to dismiss concern about animals as the soft-headed mental masturbation of people who really don't understand oppression and the depths of actual human misery, I hope to get you to think differently about suffering and pain, to convince you that animals matter, and to argue that anyone serious about ending domination and hierarchy needs to think critically about bringing animals into consideration.” - Bob Torres

Whether it's fur, food or "fun". Please think critically. Please think kindly. Please think. Go Vegan.

What's Love Got To Do With Meat?

In the recent winter storm named Atlas up to 70,000 cows, sheep and horses were left stranded, soaked with rain, and then were smothered or frozen in snow. Many of these cows were found in piles around the barbed wire meant to keep them "safe". Often buried in the drifts were young calves huddled by their mothers. 

On any site that reported this event, or in other instances where the "care" of "livestock" is scrutinized, animal users will defend their practices and habits with endless comments meant to illustrate how much they "love" their stock:

"We tenderly nurture and care for these production animals."

"Farm families love and care for each one."

"We do our best to keep our livestock comfortable; warm in the winter, cool in the summer, well fed, because we care."

"Although they may have death in the end, you can try to give them good care until then." 

"We love the animals we raise to feed the world."

At the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance you can see they "care" seventeen times on one page. Maybe they figure the more you say it... The more you mean it right? 

And Bonnie, a member of the National Turkey Federation, enters a grow-out barn singing Kumbia to the thousands of birds she claims to "love".

The pig pork people are just the same. They want you to know how much they "care" in one convincing logo. 

Dairymen are animal lovers too! You can read it seven times on one page, amid the photos of barren plastic hutches where the infant calves are "cared for" in isolation.

Or you could see the same line in a Dairy Farmers Care video where they "care" nine times in three minutes.

You can see the pattern over and over. Ranchers and "producers" "care" and "love" these animals so very much --- All the way to the kill floor.

But getting back to Atlas... The industry posted a series of photos that illustrate the impact this storm had. In one, the caption reads "Identifying and cutting ear tags from the animals we found deceased helped in keeping an accurate count of the lost." And other missing cows are being identified by their "brands" on left or right hip or rib, or elsewhere I guess...

Can't you feel the love?

And of course they have to keep track of the loss in order to be reimbursed via the Livestock Indemnity Program. Heck of a way to count the tears, through tags, brands, carcass disposal and cash. 

Any reasonable person can see right through this "love" and loss. It's not about the heartbreak of losing a friend and family member... It's about finances and lost profits. We should feel sorry for these ranchers we're told, for they'll never get to capitalize on flesh that's buried. Instead I and many others, weep for the cows, horses and sheep. I never knew a single one of them... But I know I love them more than those who "owned" them ever could.

I know what it means to genuinely care. It's someone who rearranges their whole day to rescue orphaned possums. It's someone who sets the alarm every 2 hours to insure that baby mice or rabbits are kept hydrated. It's someone who takes in a rejected calf from the dairy industry and loves him his entire life without a "lost milk tally". It's folks who pool their resources to rescue hundreds of "spent hens" . And they do it over, and over, and over and over again without the reward of one single egg as a "payment". 

It's finding a way to rescue one pig who then gives birth to sixteen others. It's rejoicing that all are healthy, without the calculated plan as to when they reach a market weight. Their value is priceless.

I could go on with how much authentic concern is given to these beings who have been rescued from the industries that profess to "care" while benefiting financially. And it's true, for some it is about the money... But not the making of it - But the sharing of it... Down to their last penny. That's a real love beyond counting ear tags and making meat.

Whether you are a consumer or a rancher - Words are hollow if they're not followed through with sincere action. Using others for your profit or personal benefit has nothing to do with love. Please if you don't do so already, live and Eat Like You Care.

Trivial Humor & Serious Inspiration = Animal Ag & UnMuted Advocates

In case you missed the bit of humor around the web last week - It comes to you courtesy of the animal ag industry that went into a tizzy when the Country Music Television channel  sent out a twitter acknowledging World Vegetarian Day, and suggested a "meatfree" Monday as well. It played out like a similar panic that occurred last year, when a "meatfree Monday" was proposed by the U.S.D.A. It's evident that these carnists suffer from extreme vegophobia:




But don't let the farcical antics by the flesh-peddlers gag your voice. These three advocates and others, certainly aren't letting that happen! And they depend on their hands and sign language as a way to get their message heard:
ZimmySpiritual
amandamac3
DeafNutritionist Sandria Graham hosts the 2013 ASL Vegan Documentary Film

No matter how you're talking about justice and kindness... Please don't let the ridiculous, phobic and fearful, life-snuffers silence you. Speaking up for the world's most mistreated inhabitants is seriously needed. Thank you for doing so! ;)

The Irony of Boxed Bacon and Boxed Pigs

In this most depraved set of conflicted realities there's the ostentatious, limited edition, presentation of parts of a pig carcass delivered in a black velvet box.

There are three "elite" options: As pictured - The Commander, (note the "truth in advertising" disclaimer on the cash), The Matador and The Woodsman. I'll spare readers the narratives of each... For a chuckle you know where to find the pseudo-hyper-masculine bravado and pretentious video launched for this orgy of perverted, self-indulgent excess. (Ancient Rome anyone?)

Meanwhile... We have millions of pigs that live their miserable short lives enslaved in tiny boxes that are lined only with pain and despair.

The Oscar Mayer folks compare their pig-meat to the quality of diamonds citing 4 critical "c's".

Here's my 4 that count more: 
Consciousness, Consideration, Care, and Compassion 





It is so wrong to treat these innocent pigs so harshly when there are many other kinder options. 

Unbox your heart... Unbox the pigs... Thank you.

The Irony of Eating Starving Animals...

Ever hear someone say they were so hungry they could eat a cow? Wonder if they'd consider eating a starving cow? 

How about this story from New Mexico where 25 cow carcasses were found amid a thousand emaciated cows who were left for the same kind of death by starvation. No surprise... The drought causes extreme scarcity of food and water. And well... I guess if you're in it for the (blood) money - Ya' can't go blowin' all the profits on hay and feed - Now can ya? :/

But on a less extreme scale those who eat animals are eating hungry ones all the time!

From cows - Cattle that have been shrunk kill more easily than those with full intestinal tracts. Perhaps withdrawing cattle from feed 1, 2, or 3 days before they are slaughtered would economically benefit both feeder and slaughterer.

To pigs - Feed withdrawal saves costs and contamination

To chickens- Feed withdrawal in broiler flocks that are about to be taken to slaughter, greatly influences processing and carcase quality. 

They all arrive at the slaughter plant hungry!

Kind of weird when you think of it... Even brutal murderers set for execution get a great "last meal". And here we go... Murders of nonhuman victims - Starving them so we can eat them. 

Ironic isn't it? 

Please don't be the cause of anyone starving:

Photo from Vegan Wiki

The Irony of Growing Green Food --- For Livestock

In celebration of Earth Day I can't help but get enthusiastic about modern methods that will ethically sustain our nutritional needs.  Anyone who's read my opines throughout the web or on this blog also knows what optimism I have in hydroponic food production. This along with veganic gardening and perma-culture - We actually stand a chance to feed ourselves in ways that don't destroy the planet or harm others.

In rural and suburban areas I love the idea of turning lawns into gardens and I praise guerrilla farmers in cities. In residences I think someday all homes will be equipped with food stations that add ever more to the possibility of sustaining a good life on this good planet:

And even in our future galactic travels plants are the answer!

Anyone can see the urgency that should motivate industrial and architectural shifts to producing good food for the generations to come.

Advocates of 'vertical farming' say growing crops in urban high-rises will eventually be both greener and cheaper

This sustainable plant based food model might include floating barges at every port filled with all sorts of grains, legumes and leaf-foods... Grocery stores might have facilities on the roof that grow vegetables of all varieties... It would be processed on the spot and the "food miles" would be the elevator that moves the goods to the ground floor for sale and local distribution. The chaff and waste would be recycled to supply energy for the building and nutrients for the next growing crop. I mean really! Can you just envision what we could do if we shifted our mindset to what's healthier for us any way? (And also what's so much kinder to others too).

So now - You may roll your eyes as I have, at the ludicrous, daft, nonsense the meat industry shows in it's attempt to take these viable, modern methods of feeding humans to ironically --- Feed cows instead! :(
 Greenhouse feeds gaining ground in livestock industry. 

The Earth, the inhabitants and I thank you for consuming in an ethical, vegan manner.

Dairy Fools - Not Unique to April 1st

I wish I could say this was a prank... An Onion piece... Or an April Fool's joke - But it's not.

Choopan Dairy in Iran just made claim to the world's record of the largest ice-cream cup. The celebration was in Tehran where thousands gathered to share in the media-blitz event. The ice-cream cup contents weighs 11,023 lbs topping the 2005 previous record holder Baskin Robbins.  Citizens are a-glow in "national pride" over the "achievement".

"I'm here with my family to see the biggest ice-cream in the world in Iran and Iranians are making it and I think everyone is having fun," said another person attending the event.

Well... We in the know --- The ones who aren't fooled by the dairy lies, are certain that not everyone is having "fun" making ice-cream.

We also wonder where Iran is getting all the feed for the cows and all the water to process milk. Especially considering that it takes about 2,000 gallons of H2o to make 1 gallon of the stolen, liquid poison. Hum?

As a friend mentioned today... It's no coincidence that the word "evil" is "live" only inside-out. It's backward. It's contrary to everything that's true. For these cows and calves, for the U.S. and eventually Iran too - The lies will catch up when droughts, hunger and ill health abound because wrong, wasteful models of gluttony and greed have been hailed as "progress". 

He screams in the making of ice-cream

Best Vegan ice creams: Two scoops - Hold the dairy.

The Honesty of Being Vegan - Let's Shake on it!

Some of the time it's just amusing for me to look at the language the animal industries use... Words never are quite what most of us would think they should be. "Friendly fire" anyone?

In the case of the dairy folks this comes from the March issue of their online magazine:

You'd think with a lead like this it was an article in Parent's Magazine or New Nursing Mom or something... I mean honestly? Dear dairy folks and consumers: Is any cow's mammary secretions - That she makes for her own calf really "yours"??? 

Must be like the uneasy financial news for hogs. In truth pigs could give an oink about any exploiter's profits. :/

And here's some other things that the pork folks are talking about using a twisted kind of double speak:

They say that the profits are all on "her back":

But closer to the truth is that her little ones are all on their backs ---

Getting their wee tails cut off all while animal "welfare" in the slaughterhouses is being discussed!

And speaking of animal "welfare" in slaughterhouses... Here's what's happening in cheap-speak from the "poultry" folks. {my bold thoughts in brackets}:

"Having been safely {safely? whose safe here?} held in the lairage, the birds will then be moved to the hand-on point. Ensure that the baskets/modules are handled carefully {handle the baskets carefully - but certainly NOT the birds!} and that all operations are completed smoothly. The hand-on point is critical to the bird's welfare {eye roll}. Staff must be trained to shackle birds with minimal force {minimal force? Just enough to end their lives.} and ensure that both the bird's legs are located in the shackles. As part of the shackling process staff should be encourage to momentarily calm each bird by placing a  hand on the bird's back. {LIE! With 10,000 chickens murdered per hour they want the public to think that each individual bird is "calmed"?} Good shackling practice will not only reduce bird stress, but also minimise flapping that can cause haemorrhages in the breast muscle, so adversely affecting the quality."

"The line should be designed with a breast comforter..."

{Odd isn't it? That the kill line should be equipped with a breast comforter?} :/

"The final welfare check should be made at the exit of the stunner." {Really??? We're checking for "welfare" after the electrical bath and pre-neck slitting? LMAO!!!}

The article concludes:
"It's a good investment to take time to look at the slaughter line in detail as the benefits to the bird and your business can be significant."
page 6/7 Poultry Digital

{Yeah right --- A slaughter line that's to the "benefit" of the birds... My tush!}

No surprise but even the "beef" people want to convince their flesh-eating customers of cow "welfare":

From the video of Kansas State University Veterinarian Dan Thomson

Truth is --- Everyone wants in on the idea of "careful", "humane", "welfare" for animals - But honestly - There's only one way to do it: 

You can shake on it and go vegan!

The "Science" of Eggs

Here ya go folks... The "science" of eggs as demonstrated through common animal agriculture practices. Starving and gassing 50,000 hens - if not for the amazing rescue by the heroes at Animal Place.



And here's the real science of plant based Beyond Eggs:





Beyond Eggs ingredients include peas, sunflower lecithin, canola, and natural gums. In addition to being vegan, it's also gluten free and cholesterol free.   
More info on Beyond Eggs and here.
And don't miss your opportunity to sign up for a free sample!

File this under "Posts that write themselves"! :)

The Irony - Finding & Killing Your Favorite Cow

Two articles reached my mailbox almost simultaneously and I'm left scratching my confused head over the contradictions they expose.

There's this account that cow-rancher-turned-author-wanna-be Amanda Radke gives of reading her book Levi's Lost Calf to a group of school children. The book apparently includes all the expected characters and "drama" surrounding a barn... While Levi and his friends search for the missing calf they encounter a bunny, a raccoon and I imagine other wild critters that help further distinguish the role of the "domesticated" missing prize...

I belong to me- by B.Elliott

Of course the story will end happily as the calf is recovered and not quite "finished" yet. But there is the treat of a "kid friendly", "real cowboy cookout" recipe included in the final pages... 

I haven't read the book but I can guarantee ya --- There will be blood.

Oh but there's nothing that isn't age appropriate though... Ms Radke makes it clear that she's not "taking any bullet" to explain where/how baby calves come from... No... There's no talk of sperm straws or genetically selected bull semen in this meat on the hoof story... Just pure love in saving a stray (favorite) calf - (ugh!)

Click. Delete.

Next comes this from Drovers - The Cost of an old cow where ranchers are urged to evaluate the expense that sentiment might entail: 

"Every article about culling cows includes a bullet point that says “old cows,” but rarely are there reasons to get rid of the “trail boss cow," the last cow you bought from dad, or the favorite 4-H heifer listed. There is a favorite cow in every herd that gets kept every year, even if she calves a little later each spring and the calf weans a little lighter in the fall. Reasons to cull these animals could include the death potential of older cows and the increased feed costs required to keep them".   

So we can see where Levi's lost calf eventually winds up... Even after all the teachings of "family values", loyalty, love and "care" - If the bottom line says that even the "favorite" cow doesn't count unless he/she is "profitable"... Well everyone gets snuffed out of the financial story! But as Ms. Radke mentions in several of her posts... This is exactly how her gOd planned it for FFA members and all the spiritually guided cowboys. - (ugh!)

Click. Delete.

Now contrast this shrewd calculating of what an other's life is worth and mosey on over to this fabulous post at VINE Sanctuary where there's a joy-filled celebration talking place inspired by the rescue of 5 "old" cows...

So the next time Levi's missing a calf - Or Drover's addition fails - Let's hope they all wind up as valued as these guys: 
 


You don't need to kill them. You don't need to contribute to the blood spilling coffers. And you shouldn't lie to kids or yourself that you do. Vegan is Love - "saving" a calf to kill later isn't!

Click. Delete.

The Twelve Days of Dairy Death

The United Dairy Industry of Michigan and The Dairy Princess Cheyenne Saumier in Pennsylvania wanted to remind consumers to eat lots and lots of cheese by re-writing the Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Michigan farmers are caroling

• 12 artisan cheeses
• 11 bowls of ice cream

Falla blah, blah, blah...

And Ms. Princess' version of the Twelve Days praises the dairy harmer as he had to "clean his barn, plow fields, grind feed" Yadda-yadda... 

She also includes a recipe for a "White Christmas" pizza that calls for almost 4 cups of cow's milk cheese - Oh yeah and a bit of butter with a few slices of pig's flesh as a topping.

Now I'm no poet but here's my rendition:

On the first day of Christmas the harmer impregnated the cows.

On the second day he removed the cows' tails and horns.

On the third day he lobbied Congress for more money.

On the fourth day he checked for mastitis pus in milk.

On the fifth day he smelled the manure lagoon.

On the sixth day he scheduled next week's cull.

On the seventh day he stole the babies from their mothers.

On the eighth day he placed ear tags on the new slaves.

On the ninth day he chained the male calves up in stalls.

On the tenth day he shipped them off for veal.

On the eleventh day he told a big lie that his practices are humane. 

On the twelfth day dairy gave everyone constipation.

So for all you cheese heads and cow's milk consumers - My best advice would be to ask Santa to put (along with your coal) - some of these great laxative products in your stockings:  

And under the tree:

You know... It's really naughty to rape cows, steal their babies, and kill others just so they can "contribute" to your White Christmas cheese addictions!

Even Santa knows it's nice to: 

Action for Animals Sweet Vegan Recipes

Just do it for goodness sake!

My Vegan Vote: I Want To Elect A Different Government

I don't want to just cast a vote for who's to be the next prez... I want to elect a different government too. Let's face it - Vegan or not... Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian or Green Party - Your tax dollars go to fund some things that just don't seem like they should.

As for me, I'm not at all happy about the USDA Market Access Program (MAP) that just recently helped establish a market for cow carcasses to Sri Lanka... Yeah, the country that's mainly Hindu and Buddhist, whose diet is primarily plant based. Nothing like tax dollars going to increase the "demand" for beef.

I'd also like a country that didn't purchase $170 million of pork, lamb, chicken, and catfish.  Or a military that buys 94 million lbs. of beef, 64 million lbs. of pork, and 500,000 lbs. of lamb each year. Actually a country (and a world) that has no need for a military sounds even better.

I'd cast a vote for a country that didn't hide information about antibiotic resistance as a result of growing "food" animals.

In addition, I also would vote for a country that doesn't suppress the idea of a "meatless Monday"... One that doesn't allow certain states to violate their own cruelty laws like Pa. does regarding it's horrendous pigeons killing festivals. I'd vote for a country that didn't kill wolves or coyotes to "protect" livestock. I'd  vote for a country that left it's wild horses alone!  I'd vote for a country that banned using animals in circuses. I'd vote for a country that didn't allow programs to "swim with the dolphins", with the tiger cubs or with the alligators. 

I'd vote for a country that didn't find it acceptable to put millions of beings in a position of drowning or burning to death. I'd vote for a country that didn't theatrically "pardon" one bird while promoting the evisceration of millions of others.  

I could go on much longer regarding the country I'd vote for... And certainly no one person will be the one to make much positive change for our animal friends.  So... this sort of sums up what I'm thinking about as I cast my vote tomorrow:

Well... Not really! But what other choice is there??? :/

The Fair Flu: Eat Your Pork- Just Not With Pigs- The Irony!

There's a few new ugly bugs circulating the human population lately (and again): There's the H1N1 and now the H3N2v flu strain... Most infections with the H3N2-variant flu have been in people who visited pig barns at state and county fairs.

And in Iowa there are the re-emerging diseases in pigs.

Here's a list of zoonotic diseases prominent in the livestock industry:
gastrointestinal dysentery
salmonellosis
E. coli
campylobacteriosis
toxoplasmosis
listeriosis
toxigenic
cryptosporidiosis
leptospirosis
cysticercosis
tuberculosis
rabies
leishmaniasis
brucellosis
echinococcosis
toxoplasmosis
Q fever
trypanosomosis
hepatitis E
anthrax

And with county fairs gearing up for their show-tell-and kill festivities - Here's a round up of advice for participants who wanna watch:

Wash your hands before and after exposure to animals, don’t eat or drink in areas where animals are kept.

Visitors and exhibitors should wash and sanitize after touching any livestock and should not eat or drink in the animal barns, Miller said.

"Washing hands before you eat, every time you eat, greatly reduces the spread of disease. This is particularly important after visiting animal exhibits or being in direct contact with animals."

Never eat, drink or put things in your mouth while in animal areas and don’t take food or drink into animal areas.

“By not eating around farm animals, you greatly decrease your risk of getting the flu.”

Make sure there’s plenty of hand sanitizer in all of the livestock barns and signs up reminding fair-goers to wash their hands and avoid eating in the barns.

Don't drink or eat near pigs, and don't take food into animal areas.

REPEAT:
Don’t take food or drink into animal areas.

Guests of the fair shouldn’t touch the swine and don’t take food into barns.

Fair attendees should avoid carrying food or drink or putting things in the mouth while in the animal display areas.

Soap, water and frequent hand washing are the only ways to prevent the spread of infection when people, animals and food come together.

People who have contact with these animals should take precautions such as washing their hands, not eating or drinking in areas with swine.

And repeated through the industry handlers in regards to the 289 cases (15 hospitalized/1 dead) of H3N2v flu virus in one month's time:
Never eat, drink or put things in your mouth while in animal areas and don’t take food or drink into animal areas.

And in North Carolina after an E-coli event at the fair they are putting up barriers in this year's fair... Yes, (ironically) even the "petting zoo" is "hands off" with the animals.

See the pattern here?... Animals and food just don't mix!
But - Cooking up a 260 pound "pork burger"?  Not a problem!

 Nope...

There's not a single health issue that anyone can see...

Ironic isn't it?

2012 World Pork Expo photo credits