Factory Farm Research Paper

Should Factory Farms Be Put to an End Are factory farms really the most effective and efficient way of producing and feeding the world? Some say factory farms are necessary to be able to feed the world, however, what if there was a healthier, more efficient way of feeding the world. Factory farms are slowly worsening our world by being a major threat to biodiversity, and being unhealthy for the environment around it as well as being extremely unethical. Factory farms are becoming unhealthier for their surroundings as there is a greater demand for meat. As stated in an article, “Factory farms continue to reap large profits while producing subpar meat, polluting air and water resources, and damaging the public’s health,” (Colicchio). This is …show more content…
According to Debra A. Miller, in the history of human agriculture 7,000 different crops were used to feed people, however an average of fifteen plants and eight animals are relied on for 90% of all human food (Miller). Since we rely so heavily on so few different species of plants and animals for our food, there are less of the other animals and plants. We will miss out on important contributions that the unused species have to offer. It was also stated that factory farms mass produce only a few select livestock breeds that have been specially chosen for production, this has caused a sharp decrease in the genetic diversity of the world’s livestock populations (Miller). The loss of genetic diversity and biodiversity because of the factory farms can cause a loss of many things such as productive soil and pest controls. Finally, it was said that because of the factory farms being extremely not biodiverse we will begin to lose things caused by biodiversity such as pest controls, pollination, resistances to diseases, and many more effects of biodiversity (Miller). If some of these things were lost, just so factory farmers can make a profit this could extremely worsen our world. All in all, the loss of biodiversity due to factory farms can have very serious and harmful effects on our environment and world. Finally, factory farms are extremely and disgustingly unethical. According to Ben Macintyre the …show more content…
As stated in an article, “Chickens receive a perfectly balanced diet to which they have constant access. They also have plentiful water, are protected from wind, rain, heat and cold, and are safe from foxes, snakes and insects,” (Leyonhjelm). Yes, the animals are being protected, but at what expense? The animals, while gaining some protection, lose many things such as being able to move freely and live a normal life. It was also said that, “The ammonia emitted by chicken feces is no problem unless the chickens are sick, which is rarely the case,” (Leyonhjelm). Since the chickens are constantly exposed to the feces and not being able to move around they just get sick anyway. Once they are sick it spreads like wildfire, which will lead to having to kill all infected chickens. Finally it was exclaimed that food stocking cannot be too high or else growth rates would be inhibited and cause more problems (Leyonhjelm). Limiting the animal’s food supply, causing the animals to not eat the normal amount, will cause the chickens to not grown naturally. These animals are grown to be unlike the way they were intended, basically making them a new breed of animal. Therefore, some may argue that factory farms are necessary and do not harm the animals, it is clear that factory farms are inhumane and