Every fall I take my recreation group to a local farm to pick pumpkins and see and pet the animals. I have sometimes thought that these animals don’t have as much room as I thought they would. The video “Farm to Fridge” shows that these are the lucky ones. Most cows, pigs, and chickens live a life of pain, suffering and mutilation. What little human contact these livestock have is one of abuse, not affection like their farm counterparts.
Chickens, whether raised for meat or eggs, are kept in pens devoid of natural light and with little or no room to move. Chicks have their beaks cut of in an effort to keep them from hurting each other, but ironically this hurts them more. Male chicks don’t even make it this far, as they are suffocated or ground up alive, just because they are not profitable. Cows are tortured and mutilated before being put into stalls that they barely fit into. Their babies (the calves) are tortured and killed so that momma cow’s milk can be mechanically pumped for human consumption rather than have her nurse her young. Piglets have their tails cut off shortly after birth, and many become ill from infections and lack of nutrition. The sick ones are beaten and slammed on the floor til they slowly die. The Ones that make it are destined to a restrained life in captivity until slaughter time.
As if these indignities were not enough, many of them are further subjected to being slaughtered while still alive and conscious. Stunning methods, such as electrified water or stun guns, fail to render the poor animal unconscious, so they hit the slaughter floor (often literally) awake, aware, and in a grievous amount of pain. So next time you complain about the pain heartburn after having a bacon cheeseburger, realize it is nothing compared to that that pig and cow went through to get to your plate.
