*Sigh*.. People and their views about animal rights, huh? I blame Disney.
Righto, a little back-story for anyone who doesn't know what cubicle farming is. It really depends who you ask.. For example, if you ask me, it is a cheaper, more efficient (and in some cases better for the animals) way to get the products that we love. And simply involves housing farm animals in indoor cubicles.. However, if you ask S.A.F.E or Greenpeace or any of those hippy types, they will probably describe it as more similar to Auschwitz... but with animals.. and probably say that cubicle farms are worse, you know, because they value animals more than humans.
Aaaanyway, recently (yesterday) three companies revived attempts to secure land-rights for some large-scale cubicle farms. And as expected, there have been outcries from usual spouters of animal-rights propaganda. But again, that is to be expected, as they will not be happy until man-animal marriages are legalised and everyone drinks their own urine (I assume).
Arguing against 'factory farming' does not make sense to me, especially when it comes to dairy farming. The reason for this is that it is better for the damn cows! They are housed indoors only for eight months of the year, the eight coldest months of the year. This is beneficial (especially in the areas where the farms are planned) because cows do not actually have much resistance to cold or wet weather, due to their lack of insulation (e.g. wool). So it actually makes sense, for the benefit of the animals, to keep them indoors during the cold times of the year. In fact, if they had any concept of the word 'prefer', the cows would probably prefer it.
Also, it is potentially better for the environment. Having taken (and failed) year 11 geography in high-school, I think I know a little about the environmental effects of dairy farming. And one of the downsides of high-density outdoor farming during the winter is the damage that is done to the ground. Damage which is very difficult to reverse and damage which makes it unlikely for anything to grow on that piece of ground. But having the cattle indoors during the time when that land is saturated would surely help to prevent this issue, making for more pasture in the warm/dry seasons - more milk produced. Another environmental problem caused by dairy farming is effluent run off into waterways, which I don't really feel the need to explain, nor do I think I need to explain why indoor farms could drastically lower run-off. But the only reason I care about that is because I don't want to be drinking shit.
So the last (and main) reason that I believe it is ridonculous to oppose them comes down to my personal views on animal rights. Now, I am going to get this out of the way first, I am not an advocate for animal cruelty.. but I think I have a different idea of what 'animal cruelty' entails than most, and I also see farm animals as tools rather than animals. It is much the same as the way that ancient Greeks/Romans saw their slaves, just with less moral wrongness... Anyway, to me, the animals are the property of the farmers, they need them to earn their living, and they need them to provide us with the delicious delicious dairy products(/meat/eggs in other cases). So right there you have a farmer's motive to not kill the animals, also the healthier the animals are, the better product they will produce - motivation to keep them reasonably healthy. It is much the same as how a farmer isn't going to go key his own tractor.
I think the thing that really annoys me is that it seems to me that people are only like 'no caged animals' for show.. Studies show that massive majorities of people are against animal cruelty and prefer free-range farming... but free-range eggs only make up 10% of the sale numbers when it comes to eggs. And that is why I despise animal activists.. The ones who are serious about it should be classed as clinically insane, and the rest of them are just like "oh man, I hate farms, fuck those guys", then go home and have a steak for tea. If you are against factory farming, eat free-range products, if you are against farming in general, be a vegetarian, otherwise shut the hell up.
Okay, So I have to be in on this.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, thank fuck. Im glad that your actually aware of how dairy farming works, and that stalls are a totally acceptable way of farming. I appreciate that. I also appreciate that farm animals are absolutely for producing food and creating revenue, and are not pets. However, I want to point out that not all advocates for the prevention of animal cruelty are vegan hippies with nothing better to do than spread propaganda. I mean, I like meat. Seriously, if I can kill it, Ill eat it. But I do like knowing that im eating healthy animals. And for the most part you are right, farmers are aware that healthy animals equals good profits. But there are still some exceptions to this, and until stricter regulations are enforced, not so much in dairy but in poultry and pigs, I'll support organisations like SAFE. So what I'm saying is, dont despise everyone who's out to improve conditions for animals,and support farmers who are doing it right, for themselves and the animals. Its a comprimise.
Cheers for the input, DissolvingGirl.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely agree with you that eating healthy animals would be preferential to eating animals that have drowned in their own fecal matter. And I am certian that there are those like you out there who support SAFE, etc, but who don't want ridonculous rights for animals. However, as is the case with most groups, it is the extremists who have the loudest voices, and combined with the fact that they also tend to be the craziest you can probably see why it is so easy to group everyone in these organisations under one banner, because we don't tend to hear from the more sensible ones.
BUT... I will definitely take your comments on board, I apologise for overlooking the more level-headed SAFE supporters and I appreciate your feedback.
Chur.