Ethical Factory Farming

Ethical Factory Farming

Recently all over California the prices of meats, eggs, and dairy products have increased dramatically. Before when every household could afford to pack their freezers full, nowadays families shopping at the nearest Costco are walking away with empty carts after seeing the inflated prices of meats. Most would attribute the rise in prices to correlate with the increase of fuel prices and the government’s budget problems but that is not the case. One major factor is the passing of California’s Proposition 2. Another is the politicians and lobbyists who supported the laws. Due to the passing of Prop 2 and the political movement to protect farm animals the combined effect will dramatically hurt farmers and consumers alike in that farmers will move their operations outside of the country and consumers will see large increases in prices. Factory farming is an ethical issue and a vital as a food source because it benefits the socio-economic status of our nation.

Many of those who are against factory farming argue on the lines of ethics and are concerned with preventing cruelty towards farm animals. The cruelty that is the focus of their argument is the confinement of farm animals, which is seen as unpleasant and causes animals to suffer when confined to a small, narrow cage (Weeks, 2). The other side of the argument that supports factory farming is hardly ever seen or heard from because of the bias and prejudicial public arena. In fact, the confinement of farm animals is for the benefit of the animal because they are allowed to feed freely without disturbance from other animals, are safe from getting injured by other animals, and farmers can administer medicine and antibiotics. The cages allow farmers more control and ease of access to the animals in case of an emergency. However, the animal rights extremists do not see things this way.

On the ASPCA’s website there is a glossary of farm animal cruelties. Every animal used in the production of...