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The Pros And Cons Of Animal Welfare

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Did you know that 56 billion animals are slaughtered each year? People believe that farmers are abusing and causing stress on the animals. Farmers use confined feeding operations to maximize the production. By having the confined feeding operations, it gives the animals no room to graze. When they can’t graze, it restricts the animal to move or to exercise (“On The Farm”). The animals are not given any pain relief during certain practices like castration or dehorning. Animal welfare is not needed in the farming aspect, because the animals are meant for food. In the 1970’s, animal welfarist got together and tried to sue farmers for being cruel and harming animals. The government created the right to farm laws. That law protected farmers rights when farming. Twelve states banned certain farm practices because they were believed to be inhumane. Those bans include, gestation crates for sows, veal crates for calves, and battery cages for chickens. All those states that banned the practices were small in the ag field. The farmers are saying that they are not hurting animals, they are protecting them. People that live in cities or that don’t experience the farm work will say it is inhumane. Farmers are trying to make changes to stop these regulations. State Farm Bureaus are trying backing up the farmers. The regulations could ruin the agricultural business (Fifield). Farmers use the most efficient methods which lower the prices for the consumer. The other people would say that the most efficient way goes against the animal’s welfare. When using the high welfare methods it raises the price of eggs by 18% which is about 49 cents per dozen. Walmart and McDonalds will be using only cage free eggs by 2025. That will increase the price of the eggs. They cages and crates are said to be safe and sanitary ways for egg production. Makes the price of food increase because the farmer can’t have as many animals because it requires too much space to be humane (Fifield). Gestation crates are the safest way for a sow to give birth. Gestation crates are inhumane for the sows. They can only stand or lie down. And they are in the crate for up to 4 months without walking. Going 4 months without walking will cause stress on the

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