When a Life Can No Longer Be Free Confining animals in small spaces or stalls is harmful for their health, restricts natural behavior, negatively affects mood, and eliminates needed social interaction. This type of confinement is extremely harsh and immoral and must not be allowed. The veal and horse industries, especially, have been taking advantage of these large animals to benefit them and make their jobs easier. Multiple diseases and a lack of needed resources has caused a downfall in the wellbeing of large, livestock animals, and this problem is partially credited by the cruel environment in which they are being kept in. Not only is it physically, mentally, and psychologically corrupting, but it is also against Church Teachings to preserve
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Confined horses tend to be “at risk of developing intestinal or musculoskeletal problems.” “Recently imposed stall confinement is associated with 54% of impaction colic cases; researchers on another study found 62% of colon impactions occured with in two weeks of significant management changes, such as stall confinement or transport.” Stress is also said to cause an elevated risk of gastric ulcers in animals secluded in small spaces such as stalls or pens (Loving). Disease, as these studies have shown, increases at a higher rate when combined with tight, enclosed …show more content…
“As a primary purpose of lying down is to relax certain muscles, the restrictions that stalls and tethers place on most normal lying postures of calves may impede full relaxation of the body and prevent the animals from living comfortably. For all young mammals, rest is critical, and sleep disruption may occur if certain lying positions cannot be adopted. Lying posture is also very important for thermoregulation. Stretching out the legs laterally can help maximize surface area to prevent overheating” (Impacts of Intensive Confinement). This position contributes to many elements of the well being of cattle, and if not adopted properly, it can make their life notably miserable. Cattle also tend to digest grass fibers in several stages, and a stalled environment interferes with this behavior. Cattle are known as ruminants, and they digest food in two stages. “They have evolved to efficiently digest grass and other fibrous plants by chewing and swallowing once, regurgitating later, and chewing again at their leisure, a practice commonly known as “chewing the cud”. Calves raised outdoors begin to eat grass and ruminate after a few weeks of age; by four months, the young animals may spend six hours a day grazing and several hours ruminating.” Being placed in a small, airtight enclosure slows and can even eliminate this intricate and time-consuming process (Impacts of Intensive
Confined horses tend to be “at risk of developing intestinal or musculoskeletal problems.” “Recently imposed stall confinement is associated with 54% of impaction colic cases; researchers on another study found 62% of colon impactions occured with in two weeks of significant management changes, such as stall confinement or transport.” Stress is also said to cause an elevated risk of gastric ulcers in animals secluded in small spaces such as stalls or pens (Loving). Disease, as these studies have shown, increases at a higher rate when combined with tight, enclosed …show more content…
“As a primary purpose of lying down is to relax certain muscles, the restrictions that stalls and tethers place on most normal lying postures of calves may impede full relaxation of the body and prevent the animals from living comfortably. For all young mammals, rest is critical, and sleep disruption may occur if certain lying positions cannot be adopted. Lying posture is also very important for thermoregulation. Stretching out the legs laterally can help maximize surface area to prevent overheating” (Impacts of Intensive Confinement). This position contributes to many elements of the well being of cattle, and if not adopted properly, it can make their life notably miserable. Cattle also tend to digest grass fibers in several stages, and a stalled environment interferes with this behavior. Cattle are known as ruminants, and they digest food in two stages. “They have evolved to efficiently digest grass and other fibrous plants by chewing and swallowing once, regurgitating later, and chewing again at their leisure, a practice commonly known as “chewing the cud”. Calves raised outdoors begin to eat grass and ruminate after a few weeks of age; by four months, the young animals may spend six hours a day grazing and several hours ruminating.” Being placed in a small, airtight enclosure slows and can even eliminate this intricate and time-consuming process (Impacts of Intensive