Factory Farming In America

When thinking of where the meat in the supermarket comes from, one might imagine a grassy farm with healthy livestock that was raised by a family. Sadly, this happy image that’s plastered on our products and shown in cartoons is a mere ploy for the customers of the meat and dairy industry. The reality is a gruesome scene of poultry, pigs, and cattle being forced into confined spaces where they suffer every day. A vast majority of farms in the United States focus on producing the largest amount of meat, dairy, and eggs for the cheapest cost, this system is commonly referred to as factory farming. While most Americans are appalled by mistreatment of cats and dogs, many still consume the meat of animals who have endured abuse their entire …show more content…
Layer chickens are placed on a conveyer belt almost immediately after birth and they’re separated by gender. Since male chicks can’t produce eggs, they’re thrown out, suffocated, decapitated, gassed, crushed, or ground up alive. Female chicks are kept and end up in battery cages which are made of uncomfortable wires that chafe the skin of the chickens, rip out their feathers, bruise their bodies, and deform their feet. The diets of chickens generally consist of genetically engineered corn and soybeans, which isn’t anything near the seeds, plants, and worms that the chickens should be eating. If the chicks don’t survive long enough to lay eggs, they’re ground up and turned into animal feed. Those who do endure the stress are exposed to artificial lighting in order for them to lay as many eggs as possible. When their laying cycle is over, food and drink is kept away from them for up to 18 days and the hens are kept in darkness until their bodies are shocked into another cycle. Most of the hens don’t survive this process and diseases common to layer hens include fatty liver syndrome, paralysis, and cage layer fatigue. However, not all chickens are layer hens and some are raised for poultry. In order to gain as much profit as possible, farmers breed the chickens to have enlarged thighs and breasts. The animals become so large that their bones can’t support their weight and many end up with broken legs. In factory farms, overcrowding is so severe that the chickens don’t even have the space to spread their wings, resulting in aggressiveness. In order to avoid fights, farmers cut off the extremely sensitive beaks and the toes of the chickens without anesthetic instead of bettering their living conditions. 8.5 billion broiler chickens were produced in 2015, many of them inhaling ammonia day after day before being sold. Diseases common to broiler chickens include keratoconjunctivitis, osteoporosis, and cancer. Clearly,