Fast food is an idea that has taken over the eating industry. The idea of mass amounts of food in the shortest amount of time possible is something that businesses began to strive for. These processes then took a step even further and leaked into the farming process. The business models that transformed food preparation, fast food, sparked an idea of mass production in animal farming. This is how the idea of factory farming came to be.
Factory farming, also referred to as “industrial farming,” is the method of raising livestock using intensive methods, by which animals- such as poultry, pigs, or cattle- are confined indoors under strictly controlled conditions (Lombardo). The factory farm itself is a large-scale industrial operation that houses thousands of animals raised for food (“Factory Farms”). This idea of indoor farming was not introduced until the start of the last century. It started when layer hens were first kept inside in more intensive systems. Then, in the 1930s the invention of new kinds of incubators meant that chicks could be produced in larger numbers by large-scale operations. However, it was not until the 1960s and 70s that factory farming really took off. Businesses began seeking efficiencies of production, savings on space and labor, greater profitability. As a result, mass production became the new norm (“History of Factory Farming”). This was only the beginning.
What is Factory Farming
First, factory farming was designed in order to maximize production output of farming items while minimizing production costs. Then, as business took off, it developed one sole purpose production. Referring to the mass production of meat, milk, and eggs (“History of Factory Farming”). Factory farming is still a relatively “new” idea. Whether or not people should support it is a question that remains unanswered. However, two viewpoints have developed, helpful versus harmful.
Those who stand behind factory farms are the factory farmers themselves. Also, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency is acting in favor of corporate poultry integrators by paying for the construction and concentration of large poultry farms (Heinzen). This is because, despite the harmful views that have developed, factory farming has proved to be a huge success.
It is easy for farmers and corporations to support factory farming because they do not see any moral issues with it. In fact, they see factory farming as being in harmony with their morals. In their eyes the most important things are production and profits. Their main concern is the success of their farms and companies. People rely on them to provide these services. This is their job and as part of their job they must look for the most efficient way to get things done while earning the most profit. Factory farming is the way to do just that because it is inexpensive, efficient, and it allows the products a longer shelf-life.
To begin with, it is an inexpensive method as compared to other methods of farming. This can be seen in the fact that factory farms have caused the prices of food to drastically drop. These methods also allow for cheaper processes and fewer production expenses (“List of Top 19 Factory Farming Pros and Cons”). Since factory farms allow for livestock products to be produced on a large economic scale, development pricing, for example feed or livestock care, to be minimalized. As a result, the price of food at the market can also be minimalized (Lombardo). There are even more benefits that come along with factory farming for those who stand behind it.
In addition to being inexpensive, factory farming is efficient. It can be labeled as efficient because the livestock are being raised in extremely confined spaces, meaning that the spaces utilized are lesser compared to the number of animals raised. This allows farmers to save capital. Factory farming also offers faster processes than previous farming methods (“List of Top 19 Factory Farming Pros and Cons”). From the supporters’ perspective, this gets the job done and the food to those who need it faster.
Also, these farmers and corporations want to provide the best possible products. The ones produced in factory farms are offered a longer shelf life. This is because it employs new techniques of food processing, packaging and preservation which allow for the food to last longer on the shelf. This also increases the products’ economic value (“List of Top 19 Factory Farming Pros and Cons”).
For most of the supporters of factory farming, they are looking at it from a business perspective. Therefore, all of their concerns with it are about the business itself and not the animals or defects involved. What is at risk for them is the loss of business, profits, and jobs. If factory farming was to no longer be an operation, these businesses and those involved would suffer greatly. The elimination of factory farming would cause a huge step-back for the farmers and the agricultural industry. Processes would be slowed, more expensive, and less efficient. Overall, resulting in a huge loss for businesses and farmers. Consequently, this means those who support factory farming do not have a solution to please those who do not support it. Businesses are pleased with the way production is going and do not want to take any steps back in order to compromise with those who see a problem with it.
On the other hand, there are those who stand against factory farming. These would be the people who view it from outside the business perspective. A broad spectrum reaching from animal rights activists to your average person who has only read about it. This group also includes traditional rural farmers who are being run out of business. For this group, factory farming goes against their moral values. They feel as though it is immoral based on the antibiotics and hormones involved, its cruelty towards the animals, and the environmental concerns.
To begin with, the animals raised in these farms are treated with hormones and antibiotics in order to prevent disease and maximize their growth and food output (“11 Facts About Animals and Factory Farms”). If you follow the principle of “you are what you eat” then you face the possibility of these hormones and antibiotics passing down into your system through the consumption of these animals. Also, because this is the agricultural business’ new solution to feeding the world fast, that means a greater number of people exposed to these manipulated products.
A huge red flag against factory farming for those who do not support it is the presence of animal cruelty. These animals are crammed into tight spaces with little room to move or even lay down. Also, because they are maintained inside they receive little exposure to sunlight. These factory farms, or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) no longer view these animals as living beings with emotions and rights, but as cogs in a mechanized industry. Since the space where the animals are kept are so confined, CAFOs will mutilate them. For example, they will cut off pigs’ tails in order to keep others from biting them. CAFOs also remove the beak of chicken to reduce the number of stress-induced pecking injuries. This removal also impairs their ability to eat. After spending their lives under these cruel conditions, these animals are killed in industrial slaughterhouses. Unlike smaller facilities, where careful attention helps ensure more humane slaughter, these factory slaughterhouses kill and process thousands of animals at a rapid rate in order to save money (“Factory Farms Abuse Animals”). This is only part of the damage done.
In addition to damaging the animals, factory farms also damage the environment. Factory farming has become a major contributor to water and air pollution along with deforestation. These animals in the farms produce more than one-million tons of manure every day which often contains undigested antibiotics that have been given to the animals. This waste is disposed of into large lagoons which, especially during times of flooding, can spill into other bodies of water. The current method of emptying these lagoons is a spraying system in which the waste is applied to nearby fields. This can contaminate local water supplies, and emit harmful gasses. Additionally, livestock release methane gas during their digestion process. Meaning, these farms serve as concentrated sources of methane gas emissions. In order to make room for these farms, many lands and forests are cleared. Not to mention the amount of water that is required to grow crops to feed the animals, provide the animals with water, and clean all of the farms, slaughterhouses, and transport trucks ( “Student Project: Factory Farming: Environmental Impacts”). These farms are putting so much at risk.
For those on the side opposing factory farms, there is a lot at stake. Our food is being manipulated through the use of antibiotics and hormones which could potentially pass down into our symptoms through consumption of these animals. This is not something people should have to worry about when wanting to eat certain products. Also, for the traditional rural farmers who are being run out of business by these industrial farms, they have their jobs and livelihood at stake. These factory farms are taking over and fast. The need for traditional farming is diminishing everyday and soon there be no need for it at all.
As a result, these opposers have come up with a solution. This solution involves socially responsible food systems which are small scale and dispersed, with linkages among independent producers and processors. The main focus would be on local and regional markets. Production would be concerned with high quality food for consumers who are seeking to support farmers that produce healthy, environmentally friendly meat using human methods. This alternative would require community-based support in order for it to survive and be successful (“Alternatives to Factory Farming”). This alternative would go back to the more traditional methods of farming.
Conclusion
For me, I can view factory farming through both moral lenses. It breaks my heart the way these animals are treated and I believe that, that aspect of the process is completely immoral. Animals have rights too. They are living individuals and should be treated as such. I understand that their purpose is to be raised for food, however, they are much more humane ways of doing so than the processes factory farms follow. However, I can see from the business perspective that sometimes you have to do unpleasant things in order to obtain the best profit possible. This does not mean I agree with their methods, but looking from their viewpoint I understand their thought process.
Factory farming is the fast food industry of the agricultural world. It has taken traditional farming and completely changed the process. Its development and growth has increased as a rapid rate. It is said that 2 in every 3 farm animals in the world are now factory farmed. Differing opinions have formed of whether or not people believe factory farming is helpful or harmful. Whether or not this process should be continued is being debated by the differing sides, both with their own reasons to support their claims.
