Wake up and smell the bacon: Animal welfarism isn't working
Adam Kochanowicz
Issue date: 3/2/10 Section: Opinion
Animal welfarism is no more absent today than it was in 1641 when the first animal welfare laws were written in the United States. We believe the powers that be are hard at work ensuring the best possible conditions for the nonhuman animals we call food.
An everyday shopping experience is a validation for this. We are constantly discerning between products that are "ethically raised," "humanely slaughtered" or "cage free." We are led to believe there is a strong effort on the part of "compassionate" farmers to weed out producers like those shown on HBO's "Death on a Factory Farm," compiled from undercover footage by an animal welfare organization.
These conceptions are very attractive. They ensure we can continue to enjoy the fruits of animals while believing we are participating in a mutual or fair exchange. The reality of our relations to nonhumans shows us a truth we all have feared accepting: We shouldn't eat animals. If we care about sentient beings, we shouldn't even eat from them or use them as our property. That we derive a benefit from exploitation is not a moral justification.
First of all, welfarism doesn't work. Animals do not suffer because there is an out-of-control band of farmers who ignore the well-being of animals. In fact, an animal producer is probably more concerned with animal welfare than consumers.
This is simply an economic imperative. The profitability of animals relies on their being raised adequately enough to be turned into a profit and "healthy" enough to make it to the slaughterhouse where they are turned into meat, textiles and chemicals. Extra measures of welfare actually provide little, if any, amelioration for nonhumans.
Many supposed improvements are simply misleading. For instance, your cage-free eggs come from chickens whose lives began at a hatchery. Their brothers were suffocated at birth (males do not produce eggs), their beaks were singed blunt with a hot metal surface and they live in cageless but significantly crowded enclosures with little exposure to light and a constant atmosphere of nitrogenous fecal fumes. The life of egg-laying birds--cage free, free range or otherwise--is miserable.
An everyday shopping experience is a validation for this. We are constantly discerning between products that are "ethically raised," "humanely slaughtered" or "cage free." We are led to believe there is a strong effort on the part of "compassionate" farmers to weed out producers like those shown on HBO's "Death on a Factory Farm," compiled from undercover footage by an animal welfare organization.
These conceptions are very attractive. They ensure we can continue to enjoy the fruits of animals while believing we are participating in a mutual or fair exchange. The reality of our relations to nonhumans shows us a truth we all have feared accepting: We shouldn't eat animals. If we care about sentient beings, we shouldn't even eat from them or use them as our property. That we derive a benefit from exploitation is not a moral justification.
First of all, welfarism doesn't work. Animals do not suffer because there is an out-of-control band of farmers who ignore the well-being of animals. In fact, an animal producer is probably more concerned with animal welfare than consumers.
This is simply an economic imperative. The profitability of animals relies on their being raised adequately enough to be turned into a profit and "healthy" enough to make it to the slaughterhouse where they are turned into meat, textiles and chemicals. Extra measures of welfare actually provide little, if any, amelioration for nonhumans.
Many supposed improvements are simply misleading. For instance, your cage-free eggs come from chickens whose lives began at a hatchery. Their brothers were suffocated at birth (males do not produce eggs), their beaks were singed blunt with a hot metal surface and they live in cageless but significantly crowded enclosures with little exposure to light and a constant atmosphere of nitrogenous fecal fumes. The life of egg-laying birds--cage free, free range or otherwise--is miserable.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 10
matt
posted 3/02/10 @ 12:27 PM CST
And the angel of the lord came unto me,
snatching me up from my place of slumber.
And took me on high, and higher still
until we moved to the spaces betwixt the air itself. (Continued…)
Bob
posted 3/02/10 @ 3:14 PM CST
I was just going to eat six wings today, but I had to order a dozen after reading this.
Kenny Kaczor
posted 3/02/10 @ 4:51 PM CST
I wasn't eating my broccoli beef bowl as I read this and I didn't feel a pang of guilt.
Bea Elliott
posted 3/03/10 @ 12:43 AM CST
I totally agree. If we are to stop the abuse of animals we must stop the use of them. All that welfare laws do is give the illusion that one can do the wrong thing the "right" way. (Continued…)
CAROL
posted 3/03/10 @ 9:58 AM CST
This article is typical nonsense believed by the almighty save all animals and let the humans starve to death VEGANS. It is unfortunate that they refuse to accept the fact that we need the nutrients we get from meat, not everyone would be eating food if we don't have farmers, they need to leave them alone and let them continue doing what they do best and that is supply a nutritous source of food. (Continued…)
Tom
posted 3/03/10 @ 12:47 PM CST
Typical nonsense believed by the almighty, eh Carol? While I am an atheist, I think you certainly have an interesting conception of God. Also: have you heard of a period?
carol
posted 3/03/10 @ 4:59 PM CST
Tom, yeah I know what a period is,I was just caught up in the moment. Not almighty god,Tom, almighty Vegans. Save the furry bunnies, they need to live more than we do, right?? lol
Daniel
posted 3/04/10 @ 4:54 AM CST
Carol, if we need meat to survive; if we'd all starve to death without meat, how do you explain the millions of vegans out there? How do you explain all the vegan athletes? I've been vegan for over 10 years. (Continued…)
Kenny Kaczor
posted 3/04/10 @ 10:12 AM CST
I'll eat any type of cow. Hell, sacred cow is my favorite.
Carol, though, is straight-up wrong that we (as in, big fat Americans) need meat to survive. (Continued…)
Valtrex Supplier
posted 3/09/10 @ 6:29 PM CST
Carol sounds like one of those bible-thumping morons who spends her days scarfing down as many animals and their byproducts as she can. Just because you're bigger than those furry bunnies means you need to eat one or ten at every meal. (Continued…)
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