Efficient Animal Farming an “Illusion” – Reform Advised

The efficiency of current animal farming practices is an “illusion”, according to a report released last Summer by the Pew Charitable Trusts (May 30, 2008).

This “illusion” is made possible by “cheap grain, cheap water and prison-like confinement systems.” Underpinning this status is the drive for the lowest possible labor costs–meaning automated feeding, watering, and waste disposal is the norm–which undermines and impoverishes traditional, family and small farm operations (farms which are typically bought out by corporate farming conglomerates, who then receive  the lion’s share of subsidies; about half a trillion since 2001).

What some call “industrial” farming and others –like the Union of Concerned Scientists–more descriptively refer to as  “confined” farming, results in massive over-crowding of livestock where unsafe/unhealthy conditions prevail for both the  animals, and the workers. These conditions make the spread of disease easier, and lead to over use of antibiotics (which are also often used to keep young calves sickly, and their meat more tender). *

This causes another problem: the creation of  “super germs”–anti-biotic resistant bacteria/viruses–that, due to their reproductive cycles and gene sharing abilities,  become ever-more-resilient, and more lethal (and can spread to the general population).

What’s more, the manure (and unused entrails) from these operations accumulates to such excessive amounts that, without an “after market” for manure based fertilizers (traditionally used, now mostly replaced with petrol-chemical fertilizers),  this waste “product” ends up in massive holding pools where it becomes toxic waste–polluting the air and seeping into ground water and local watersheds.

These factory farming systems operate on a very slim profit margin–made possible by massive, regimented, livestock raising and slaughtering. This in turn promotes the unethical and inhumane treatment of these animals due to the need for cost cutting and “volume processing”.

Long before the Pew Report, other animal rights groups and environmental organizations have warned of these practices and  their concomitant abuses. But perhaps this report will spur a future congress or president to act, to reform the industry–which is in everyone’s best interest, whether you eat meat or not. *

The Pew report recommends a new regulatory framework that treats animal farming no differently than other industries (that cause pollution and potential health risks). It also recommends phasing out any confinement system that restricts “natural movement and normal behavior” (such as calf-to-adult confined feeding stalls) and a ban on antibiotics not intended for disease eradication (i.e., growth modification, such as with veal calves).

In a more politically active vein, the report also advocates the application of Anti-Trust laws to promote competition  and reduce concentrating of farms under fewer owners (this will mean reducing or reforming the entire US farm subsidy system), which is the primary factor that encourages the current wasteful and abusive system.

* The Obama Administration is currently seeking to ban all use of antibiotics in animal farming; read the NY Times report here: Administration Seeks to Restrict Antibiotics in Livestock