World Animal Foundation
in the interest of animals...
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Farm
Animals
Farm animals have unique personalities.
They're fascinating creatures with the ability
to love, form friendships, mourn, get angry,
and show a variety of other emotions. They're
deserving of our respect, our compassion and
our gratitude for what they give us.
Agriculture has always been an important part of American culture. But the consolidation of farms in recent years has radically altered the face of farming. Today more animals are being raised on less land, with profound effects on the animals, rural communities, and the environment.
This shift in farming has been termed "industrial agriculture" or
"factory farming," as thousands, or even hundreds of thousands
of animals are crowded into huge buildings, with no access to the
outdoors. These animals may spend their entire lives on slatted
floors, under which their manure collects until it is pumped into
football-field-sized lagoons.
The problems with factory farming are numerous. Animals have no outlet for natural behaviors—in some cases, they're not even allowed to turn around. They are separated from their mothers at only a day or two old, are subjected to painful procedures without anesthesia, and may be undernourished or overfed. To control disease, industrial farmers feed antibiotics to the animals, resulting in the growth of disease-resistant bacteria that are harder to treat in both animals and humans.
There's another way to farm that honors animals and the history of farming. Some farmers now practice more humane, sustainable agriculture, which rejects the industrial model. They allow animals to be animals, and in the case of organic farming, oppose the use of hormones and antibiotics in favor of animal husbandry. Humane farmers respect animals' natural behaviors and act as true stewards of the land, protecting the environment for future generations.
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