Manure run-off from factory farms (is this not toxic waste?)
Last class we talked about food. And since lots of our food comes from factories, I'd like to take a look at some of the issues involved in factory farming, such as overcrowding, de-beaking, inhumane culling,* and then those health-related problems that may affect us in consuming these animal products (i.e., "intensive" growth production as well as intensive hormones, antibiotics and pesticide-treatments to fight diseases).
What is factory farming? Read here, about ethical consequences of factory farming:
Factory farms hold large numbers of animals, typically cows, pigs, turkeys, or chickens, often indoors, typically at high densities. The aim of the operation is to produce as much meat, eggs, or milk at the lowest possible cost. Food is supplied in place, and a wide variety of artificial methods are employed to maintain animal health and improve production, such as the use of antimicrobial agents, vitamin supplements, and growth hormones. Physical restraints are used to control movement or actions regarded as undesirable. Breeding programs are used to produce animals more suited to the confined conditions and able to provide a consistent food product.
FACTThe large concentration of animals, animal waste, and the potential for dead animals in a small space poses ethical issues. It is recognized that some techniques used to sustain intensive agriculture are cruel to animals. As awareness of the problems of intensive techniques has grown, there have been some efforts by governments and industry to remove inappropriate techniques (...) In the UK, the Farm Animal Welfare Council was set up by the government to act as an independent advisor on animal welfare in 1979. It expresses its policy as five freedoms: from hunger & thirst; from discomfort; from pain, injury or disease; to express normal behavior; from fear and distress.
1- Food animals on factory farming facilities produce an enormous amount of waste. A dairy farm with 2,500 cows produces as much waste as a city of 411,000 people (60). 2- Food facts are that there are NO regulations for the treatment of animal waste from factory farming, which contains methane and nitrous oxide gases - both many times more toxic and warming than CO2. Liquid animal waste often spills over from holding lagoons into local soil and waterways. 3- Fish farming is called "aquafarming", and this squanders natural resources too - it can take 5 pounds of wild-caught fish to produce just 1 pound of farmed fish. Aquafarming operations pollute the environment with tons of fish feces, antibiotic-laden fish feed, and diseased fish carcasses.
There are differences around the world as to which practices are accepted and there continue to be changes in regulations with animal welfare being a strong driver for increased regulation. For example, the EU is bringing in further regulation to set maximum stocking densities for meat chickens by 2010, where the UK Animal Welfare Minister commented, "The welfare of meat chickens is a major concern to people throughout the European Union. This agreement sends a strong message to the rest of the world that we care about animal welfare.”
For example, in the UK, de-beaking of chickens is deprecated, but it is recognized that it is a method of last resort, seen as better than allowing vicious fighting and ultimately cannibalism. Between 60 and 70 percent of six million breeding sows in the U.S. are confined during pregnancy, and for most of their adult lives, in 2 by 7 ft gestation crates. According to pork producers and many veterinarians, sows will fight if housed in pens. The largest pork producer in the U.S. said in January 2007 that it will phase out gestation crates by 2017. They are being phased out in the European Union, with a ban effective in 2013 after the fourth week of pregnancy. With the evolution of factory farming, there has been a growing awareness of the issues amongst the wider public, not least due to the efforts of animal rights and welfare campaigners.
For more information about ethical problems of factory farming, read here.
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Overcrowding: Egg laying hens in cage free operations are typically crowded by the thousands in large barns, with approximately one square foot of space allotted each bird. “Cage free” laying hens are not required to have access to the outdoors, and for “free range” and “free roaming” hens, access to the outdoors can be severely restricted and poorly designed. Under these labels, there are no limits on flock size and their outdoor area may be little more than a barren dirt lot that is difficult for them to access.
De-beaking: Virtually all hens slated for egg production have the ends of their beaks removed without anesthesia, causing both acute and chronic pain.
Inhumane culling: Commercial hatcheries supply hens to both factory farms and smaller egg farms, and the male chicks are unwanted and treated as a waste product. Common methods of killing and disposal include suffocation and being ground up alive. When egg laying hens’ productivity declines and they are no longer profitable to the egg industry, they are sent to slaughter or otherwise killed.
I am closing this post next Thursday Jan. 19, @ 11pm.
Personally I don't believe that factory farming is ethical. We know that ethics is an analysis of moral issues. We also know that morality is what concerns human behavior of fundamental consequence, and of course there is a fundamental consequence to factory farming. It is affecting our well being because we are eating the hormones, anti-biotics and pesticide treatments injected in these animals thus causing a detriment in our health. Our land is becoming polluted with toxic waste as well as our oceans which not only affects us but also the animals living in it. Obviously the people that work for factory farming are consciously aware of the severe consequences of this practice. Making it an worst act, as they are denying human welfare and putting profit first. In addition to the hazardous consequences coming to us from factory farming what about the cruelty with animals? I think we have yet to realize that this earth is not ours but it is of all of the living things inhabiting it. These animals are being highly mistreated and I do not believe the methods being used are morally correct.
ReplyDeleteBarbara Nobrega
ReplyDeletePHI2604 M,W,F 11-11:50
Ethics investigates questions of right and wrong actions, duty and obligation, and moral responsibility. The question proposed here is, is factory farming ethical? In my opinion factoring farming is wrong and it should be an obligation to end it and find other ways to produce the mass amounts of food that is in demand for our country. Although some may say that is unreasonable I beg to differ because it’s 2012 and technology and laws are misused many of the times for things that have far less importance than the ethical issues that factory farming rises. Factory farming is a perfect example of a legal law that is not morally correct. If morality serves to restrain our own self-interested desires than why is this going on? Animals should have right to certain standards of living just as much as we do. Just because they cannot speak doesn’t mean they cannot feel. They inhabit the world with us and should not be subjected to cruelty because in the end they aren’t inanimate objects that we should just power ourselves over. Besides the point of view of animal rights it is in turn causing negative effects to us. We eat these overly processed animals filled with insane amounts or hormones that are in fact in other countries causing birth defects. The hazardous waste that is dumping into our water and our soil is also going to eventually affect us directly health wise. So if we don’t do it for the animals because not everyone cares to make a morally correct decision. Than why not be an egoist and do it for the self-interest of eventually reaping the benefits of later being able to better our standard of living by eating animal products that are less harmful to our health?
In my opinion factory farming is morally wrong and unethical in every way, not only because we are abusing animals to satisfy our needs and wants, but also because of the negative effect this industrial facility brings with it. First of all, we are confiscating the life of these animals with no right, and making them live in cages during all their lives under unsanitary conditions with almost no access to nature, fresh air or sunlight for profit. Moreover most of the animals in factory farming are victims of abuse, since they are confined in creates so narrow, that they are not able to turn around or stretch their wings or feet. Furthermore, abuse of animals is not the only problem with factory farming, since human health is also being affected by this industry. For example on factory farms, animals are usually fed low doses of antibiotics, due to unsanitary conditions and hormones to make them grow faster. These antibiotics and drugs are later consumed by us in our daily diets causing us health problems such as salmonella. Another problem is the impact of factory farms on the environment. Concentrated animal waste from factory farms pollutes the air, soil, and water. I really think there is nothing ethic and moral in all the procedures involving factory farming. It really hurts to realize that animals are being abused and considered food producing machines.
ReplyDeleteIs factory farming ethical? That is a controversial question here in the United States. In my opinion it’s unethical because not only does it violate the animals rights but it also puts the health of human being endangered, regardless of what view you follow animals still have right; rights that are not respected in the farming factory. The animals are treated as mean to an end. They are mistreated unnecessary and taken away their rights of a respectful death. In regards to the human health the amount of growth hormones giving to these animals who are later consumed by the people could prove to be harmful to the health of those who consume them.
ReplyDeleteLoriet Martinez
DeleteMeisel Vera
ReplyDeletePHI2604 M,W,F 11-11:50
In my opinion, I strongly disagree with factory farming. We all know it isn’t ethical, because ethics is an analysis of moral issues. It has been mentioned in class that morality is what concerns human behavior with fundamental consequence. Factory farming affects many of us and the animals as well. It is affecting our life expectancy because of all the hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides that are being provided into the nutrition of these animals that we are later eating. In factory farms, animals are fed doses of antibiotics, due to unsanitary conditions and hormones to make them grow at a faster pace. The people behind all these extreme productions know the truth, and the actual consequences it may bring to mankind , and it seems not to affect them just because they are having a high profit from making a big profit that benefits them at the moment; we know classify these people as egoists.
I believe that factory farming is okay because as time passes by, there are more and more people being born on Earth. If we didn't have any factory farming than we would probably be fighting over food, which we probably will be in the future due to the high population growth in places such as India, China, and other countries. Is it ethical? That is one subject that is certainly debatable. In my opinion I believe that it is ethical because, factory farming is providing us with food which means survival to us. The way they are doing it though, could be very sickening and even cause certain problems in the long run, however it is needed due to the small amount that it takes to buy the food compared to the amount of time and effort that goes into getting that farming food into the stores and for us to buy it. If being ethical in this situation means not producing the animals and instead raising them, than that can certainly happen but the price will also skyrocket and at our current financial situation in the world, we can't afford to be picky about factory farming.
ReplyDeleteI believe factory farming is unethical, but because of the standards The United States runs by, protocols needs to be manufactured fast for unethical reasons. The reason why factory farming is the most effective and popular way of producing your food today is because the US is the unhealthiest nation in the world. Fast food restaurants are easily available around the corner, with cheap prices that can conveniently feed processed food to a nuclear family. As well, not only is it cheap but the portion sizes have served reasons why factory farming exists. In the example of a McDonald's combo meal including a burger, fries, and a drink, the portion size it was from 30 years ago is 2 or 3 times bigger today. I think factories wouldn't have to undergo such operations like de-beaking and animal growth hormones if it wasn't for the gargantuan demand coming from an overweight nation.
ReplyDeleteErnesto Ferris mwf 11/11:50
ReplyDeleteThe question of ethics arises in a lot of these debates, the argument goes that we need factory farming since our population has grown. However, we have to look at the whole picture. With factory farming we're dealing with living beings who grow up in tight spaces, are abused, and probably never have seen the light of day. That chicken or cow we consume at dinner is only a caricature of that animal. Chickens and cows are given hormones so they age months/years ahead of schedule. Who wants hormones in their system? It seems we don't mind, with effects taking on prepubescent girls (it is said that hormones is to blame for girls' rapid development). Ethics affects s everything around us. Poor hygiene when it comes to the deplorable living conditions these animals live in, and the loopholes which let this travesty continue only shows that people know, but don't seem to care where out food comed from. The act of accepting the treatment and living conditions of these animals is also ethically wrong.
Gabriella Fraenk MWF 11AM-11:50AM AM
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to factory farming being considered ethical or not, one must take into consideration all the positive and negative aspects, such as animal brutality, environmental hazards , health issues, consumer satisfaction and profit. Countless animals being mercilessly slaughtered and tortured is not only cruel but unfair to these helpless creatures. Toxins releasing into the atmosphere, pollutants seeping into our oceans are harming all those who live and breathe in our world. Hormones and other agents being injected in the produce are proving to be hazardous to our health. Despite all this, people seem to love their savory, deluxe cheeseburgers and factory owners are laughing all the way to the bank. Plus without farming, the majority of the population, particularly the middle and lower class would suffer. Fact: Factory farming causes all of what is mentioned above. Is it Ethical? I believe that factory farming is by far one of the most unethical quandaries our generation has to deal with. What about the people who work or who are in charge of factory farming? Are they to blame? I believe they are very aware of what they are doing but can they do anything to prevent more horrible outcomes from factory farming? Apparently it is not something that can be fixed overnight. I do believe the main reason factory farming still goes on today is because of profit and consumers buying farm-related products. All of these operations are done at a low-cost and factory owners do not seem to care. People keep buying and business keeps growing, hence supply and demand. Are we also to blame? Does this make us “unethical” as well? It is a scary thought to ponder. We need to seek other alternatives, that do not involve harming the lives of humans and animals, and work on preserving our planet.
Andrea Smith
ReplyDeleteFactory farming is unethical. It’s creating a holocaust for animals and offering a low quality source of food for humans. These farms endanger the environment as well as our lives. Farming animals are forced to live under unsanitary conditions. Even though these animals can’t speak for themselves, they still feel. For example, cows are raped to breed and are tortured while pregnant. After their calves are taken away at birth, a machine forces them to pump out milk. But when cows are exposed to high levels of stress, they create puss-like bacteria where milk is pumped so the bacteria is in that same milk we, humans, drink. That is only an example of the many health risks that are created from factory farming. Many pigs are raised on factory farms and don't have a great life. They are penned in concrete and steel and given large amounts of antibiotics to fend off the diseases this type of confinement breeds. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, American pork producers use over 10 million pounds of antibiotics per year to keep their confinement raised pigs from getting sick. That's more than an estimated three times the amount used to treat all human illness. Overcrowding, de-beaking, and inhumane culling are forms of torture. Nobody has the right to cause harm to others whether it is a human or not. Nobody has the authority to control over somebody else’s life to make use of them for their productivity and to maximize their own needs. It’s a universal law that nobody should be put as a slave or property. Animals should be entitled to those same rights
I believe that no animal should be put under stress and should be farmed the natural, healthy way. Naturally raised animals are raised in a humane way, fed a vegetarian diet, never given hormones, and allowed to show their natural tendencies.
I can agree with everyone when they say that factory farming is unethical. I agree because it is evident that in these places there is maltreatment to the animals as well as very unhygienic. The food that is processed in factory farming is filled with pesticides and other chemicals that enhance the growth of certain foods and the pesticides are used at an extent that may cause damage to those who consume certain foods. Factory farmers don’t care about the damage that can be caused due to all these chemicals and pesticides that they use to “help” the produce. The only thing they care about is making sure their produce is the best despite the damages it may cause. And for the animals that go through these factory farms, I feel sorry for them. They are mistreated and kept in such dirty conditions. Its very disturbing to know that nobody really takes into account where the food they buy is coming from. Maybe if we noticed a little more where the food is coming from and how it was grown, we wouldn’t be prone to catching certain illnesses from eating infected food, which seem perfectly fine, but in the long run may be damaging.
ReplyDeleteGood comments, go on. Don't mind me.
ReplyDeleteFactory farming is obviously unethical. The way the animals are being injected with chemicals that expedite their growth and other aspects of their well being, which in the long run isn't natural. Also the animals aren't being kept in a well and proper environment. These pigs, cows, and chickens are being kept in their feces. This practically shows that our food that are being exported that can be contaminated. How is this ethical ? how is this healthy ? Who can we basically trust with our food ? It's something that needs to be taking into consideration.
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe that factory farming, or at least the idea of it, is unethical. However, the way in which many of these massive farms produce their products can be considered by some as unethical. It really depends on whether you’re a consequentialist or non-consequentialist. If you’re the former you can argue that these farms are doing their best to produce enough food to meet demand and keep prices low. If they had to stop these practices they would then be unable to supply the amount of food they do. The inevitable drop in available product would then drive prices up, making previously mass produced food unaffordable to a vast amount of people. This would also result in the companies that run these farms to lose large amounts of income and force downsizing. Now the question becomes what is worse: improper treatment of animals, or depriving humans of jobs and food?
ReplyDeleteLuis Flores
Is factory faming ethical?
ReplyDeleteBefore answer to that question I will like to define the meaning of ethical: Ethical is pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct. Based on the definition above we can say that factory faming is unethical. Because we tend to consume more of anything that we posses, for instance we exceed and used meat and large quantity that surpass the amount needed to fulfill every individuals that live in US. if our body need about 1/3 of pound meat we tend to consume double or triple of that pound; therefore using meat in large quantity than the normal require is unethical because most of the meats are animal that we kill. The more wasted of meat in to our society are the more animal that we have to kill. US is the number 1 food wasting, Not only that businesses and others just kill animal or produce more food at vast quantity for their interest. More than 1 millions animals are killed in stay reserve for businesses purposes; and sometimes those meats that are reserved ended up spoiled; as result these meats become defective. Why don’t we use the amount quantity needed daily instead of using large quantity of meats that might become defective? And will prevent to torture less animal .
In a lot of countries throughout the world there is a lot of pressure from big companies to produce and make a profit by any means necessary. The US happens to be one of those countries that fall under that pressure. Our capitalist society is responsible for many of the unethical things that are currently happening in this country. Factory farming happens to be one of the worst unethical things that is occurring in this country at the moment as well as in other parts of the world. There are many different theories that would defend that factory farming is ethical but the reality is that it is not. An egoist might argue that it does not matter how the meat got to the table at a restaurant as long as it satisfies his taste buds. Although these animals are set to be killed there is no reason for animals to live in conditions that are completely deplorable. These animals have no right to be standing in their own filth and being an overcrowded room where they can't even move. Animals are living creatures that breathe, eat and feel physical pain just like human beings. It is unethical to have animals living in their own filth, being injected with hormones and then slaughtered and fed to the public. It is unethical from the stand of the animals and as well as for human beings. People are basically being fed with filth and can potentially make people sick as seen before with mad cow disease. Although some people may argue that the system is working, they are blind to the real situation that is going on. The waste that comes from the animals is not being properly disposed of and those toxins are in the air we breathe. Therefore factory farming is unethical for both the poor animals and for the welfare of human beings.
ReplyDeleteFrom the evidence that has been presented over the years regarding the American factory-farming, as well as mass public opinion, I would say that American factory farming is largely not entirely ethical system / process. As stated in many of the comments above me, the deplorable treatment, environment, and conditions in which animals that are apart of this process are subjected to is simply cruel. Animals are not inanimate objects like rocks. They are capable of emotion, pain, fear, etc. just like humans are. Continuing, I want to move onto why animals are treated as such in the factory-farming process: money. Money seems to be the sole and driving motivator of this industry. With that in mind, the consensus of many companies is to keep their operating expenses low, and their profit high; animals being apart of the former. This view has helped companies become very successful and profitable, but is hurting animals and the environment at the same time. The waste created by these factory-farming process is finding its way into our water supply, and the effects are dangerous. All in all, I believe factory-farming is not an entirely ethical process, but due to consumer demand, blindness of where our food comes from, and the profitability the industry provides, the unethical treatment of animals it breeds will continue to exist. Legislative reform, awarenes, and education is a must to change this practice.
ReplyDeleteAsh PHI2604 MWF 11:00 - 11:50
ReplyDeleteTiffany Garcia PHI2604 MWF 11:00AM-11:50AM
ReplyDeleteGiven the provided statements as well as previous documentaries that I have viewed on the subject, I can say that the practice of factory-farming is one that needs to be given more attention to. Here in America, we eat anything that comes in front of us. We do not question where it came from, how it got there, or what is in it, which is in fact a huge error on our part. I believe that factory farming is unethical. It is also unethical that we as Americans turn a blind eye to the means of our consumption. According to the World Health Organization, America is top 10 on the list of the fattest countries in the world. We were at #1 but over time, we have decreased our glutton ways. So how does factory-farming tie into this? Well, these animals that are de-beaked, trapped in outrageously small cages, sleeping on their own feces and being injected with chemicals are all for consumption. But who would want to eat a cow that has suffered so much? Anyone who is willing to go to their corner fast food joint and spend 59 cents on a cheeseburger. Those people don't really care whats in it, as long as its cheap and delicious. I believe that factory-farming does need to be stopped and can be stopped because we have been able to live without it. The mass production of food has become a trend withing the last 30 to 40 years and in the past we did not have such extreme ways. These extreme ways also include vegetables like corn which are mass produced to create that artificial sweetener that is in your favorite carbonated beverages. It is obvious that an animal should not have to suffer so much pain to become someones meal. There are better ways to produce these products and we must learn them in order to have a healthier country.
Shannon Watson PHI2604 MWF 11:00-11:50
ReplyDeleteIs factory farming ethical? If it is, I would love to know how it is. I really don't think that its ethical at all. I mean not only are the poor animals treated more worthless than dirt, but they have all this mega growth hormones and chemicals and God only knows what else being forced into their bodies. We don't know how they react to that kind of stuff. So not only do we have mega growth hormones doing whatever damage to them, we are the ones who are also killing our bodies by eating that stuff. And the people running all this madness are just concerned about making whatever money they can. I may have been under a rock for half my life or something but when has money become more important and more valuable than doing what is right? I think the whole factory farming this is wrong. I really don't have any thoughts about how to make it better or how to stop it, but I wish I did.
Is factory farming ethical? No I really don’t think it is. What they’re doing to animals is ethically wrong. Because the farmers that hold up the animals confining them in cages and crates are violating the animals rights and torturing them by injecting them with antibiotics, hormones and pesticide treatments just to make the price higher for the meat from the animal. We also have to look at factory farming for what it really it is, Animal Cruelty, farmers would debeak a chicken and then keep them stuck in cages never letting free which causes them to weaken and while farmers have the chickens captive they would put them through genetically altering breeding for years only to suffer a terrible death. Pigs and Cows would go through the same cruel torture, For What? We also got to look at when we are eating these animals what it does to our health in the future.
ReplyDeleteOf course it’s not ethical, no matter how you look at it. I’m in no way against eating meat because I believe that we as humans need it to a certain extent. What I am against is the way they treat America’s lunch and dinner. I know it may sound bad to phrase it this way, but it’s true. By shooting a chicken with steroids and selling a 5 lb chicken breast, they are slowly killing their country. All the new illnesses and cancers we are recently discovering are, in my opinion, their fault. By treating these animals these ways, making them live in their own manure, or filling them with antibiotics every other day, or even such confinements which inevitably spread diseases among the livestock and eventually to the humans (i.e. mad cow, swine flu, avian flu). What I believe is behind this madness is pure, human greed. What we need is QUALITY, whereas what they need is QUANTITY. And that, my friends, is a perfect example of egoism.
ReplyDeleteFactory farming is clearly unethical when animals are being treated like garbage and we dont know half of what goes into their body. we are not only harming ourselves but them as well. just because they dont have any feelings doesnt mean they shouldnt be treated the that way. what we fail to see is that just because we demand it to survive, it doesnt mean its the right thing to do.with all these chemicals going into theier body it is what we are cnsuming, so just the way we our killing them we are slowly killing ourselves the same way.
ReplyDeleteFactory farming is clearly unethical in my opinion because of how the animals are treated. Some people might think that morals and ethics should not play any kind of role in this kind of event, because these animals are providing our huge population with food. I agree with the fact that it helps provide us with food; however, I just cannot see eye to eye with the treatment and abuse these animals are receiving. Animals feel pain and have feelings just like humans and just because they cannot think and act like humans, do not mean they deserve to be excluded from the same morals and ethics that apply to humans as well. Also, the hormones and antibiotics that these animals receive can also be a danger to our health’s and the health of the animals, which could be a problem to us in the long run. Factory farming will always be unethical to me, but because of our rapidly increasing population factory farming is a very important component of our society.
ReplyDeleteEthics investigates the question of what is right and wrong along with moral responsibility. In this article we are asked if factory farming is ethical. I don't believe factory farming is ethical at all due to several reasons. Factory farming is very hazardous for all humans and also is very cruel for all animals involved. I don't see it morally right for animals to be injected with different types of drugs and chemicals so that they are grown faster and sold to produce more money. The chemicals being put into the animals have caused diseases and formed a variety of cancers. Not only has it affected us physically, but it has also affected our environment and oceans with all the waste being dumped into them. In the end, factory farming is unethical due to the fact that the animals are not only treated unfairly but also the inhumane way of killing them is unjust.
ReplyDeleteNo, factory farming is not ethical. We believe that because animals are just a food source they have no feelings. Well we can’t ignore the cries of pain when a cow, pig, turkey or any animal, is being brutally handled by workers. Why do these companies try to cover up what they are really doing by saying that we demand and they are just trying to keep up? It’s like they are blaming the population. We don’t tell these companies we want hormone injected meats, or meat that comes from cows, or pigs that are living in their own manure do to overcrowding. Okay, yes they provide us with the supply of food. But can’t they look at how natural and organic farmers treat their animals for production. What about the ethical lack of professionalism, when they know that these meats might affect human health. They do not think about food poisoning or diseases that people might contract from eating their meat. Factory farmers need a realization check and not just think about the growth of their toxic companies or the money.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Sanchez
ReplyDeletePHI 2604 MWF 11:00-11:50
I do not believe that factory farming is ethical for many reasons. The most obvious reason is that I consider factory farming to be a form of animal cruelty. Holding animals in extremely confined spaces, de-beaking chickens and hens without anesthesia, and robbing these animals of their basic rights and freedoms are just a few of the number of inhumane, and unethical acts that take place in factory farming. Some would argue that factory farming is necessary in our overpopulated world because it is a fast and cheap way of feeding the masses, and this need for food outweighs the cruelties of factory farming. However, we must also take into account the dangers of factory farming such as the dangerous gases that the enormous amounts of animal waste produce. Treating animals inhumanely and endangering the earth with toxic gases certainly makes factory farming unethical.
Diana Abraham
ReplyDeletePHI2604 M, W, F 11-11:50am
Is factory farming ethical?
It’s obvious that factory farming is a very controversial topic. As discussed in class, ethics deals with individual character and the moral rules that govern and limit our conduct; investigating questions of right and wrong. From my point of view, factory farming is unethical. I understand that the population of the world is growing but people don’t need to be treating those animals with such cruelty. It is completely wrong. The people that work in these factories will probably be considered egoist because they’ll think “who cares this is my job and I need the money, as long as the poultry gets to people everything is good”. But in reality everything isn’t good because everything they are injecting into these animals in the long run will affect us humans. Am not a vegetarian, but I still believe animals should have a right to be treated correctly. For example, instead of giving them no space to move around it would be generous to give them a lot to move around and development the right way. Personally no matter what way people may see it, I think it’s wrong because am so sure people would prefer to have a well grass fed animal with no growth hormones then to have an animal filled with antimicrobial agents and other filthy supplements. People should have a little more morality towards these animals.
In my opinion factory farming is wrong and unethical, all animal have rights and we are violating their rights in every way. I know that human population is growing, but that does not give us the right to abuse them and eat them just to satisfied our needs. Humans are not suppose to be carnivorous, but sadly we are eating meet and the only way to do it is by cooking it. knowing that we are consuming the vitamins, hormone and who knows which other drugs. Moreover, one of the reason for cardiovascular problems, heart attacks, and strokes its high cholesterol and we are getting that from them. Factory farming is wrong and we should stop that.
ReplyDeleteMichna Duval
ReplyDeletePhi2604 M,W,F
11:00-11:50
IS FACTORY FARMING ETHICAL?
I believe that factory farming can be debated both ethical and unethical. Yes, there are consequences to factory farming and many may say it is unethical but they don't look at it in different views. Factory farming not only affects us but the land and its animals as well. Our land is being polluted,animals are being abused and mistreated,and the food we eat are being injected with hormones and pesticides. Farmers are indeed aware of what they're doing and many may say they're only interested in there profit. But does anyone think about how many mouths have to be fed and how many demands have to be met by these farmers. If factory farming isn't done the prices of food will be outstandingly high because there would be a lack of supply. Survival of the richest would be the game and people would then understand the positives of factory farming. I'm not saying that it's good but it isn't bad either. Yes it causes pollution but that isn't the only thing that does because our own people pollute our world everyday. Yes it is unhealthy but some people have to result to these means(because of budgets) and it is your own duty to balance your own health. I understand that it is wrong to mistreat the animals but there going to be slaughtered and sold to the the same people who are against the mistreatment of the animals to fill there family and there own bellies up. The way that they are factory farming may not be the best method and it should be advanced so that it would benefit farmers as well as everyone and everything else if I may point out but it isn't all negatively bad. We are all a part of a food chain and in the end the most dominant race is fed.
Andres Bonilla
ReplyDeleteI believe that factory farming is unethical. Not only are they abusing animals but slaughtering animals that sometimes bring diseases and feeding it to the general public. Just to make a quick dollar your putting innocent people health on the line. It's cruel and inhumane how they inject all the chemicals into the animals and we as humans are satisfied with what they give us. I really think by there part it's unethical but society has given them the ok to make it ethical in the sense that they are feeding ten times more people than regular farming. I also think that factory farming should try other methods in trying to grow mass amounts of animals. That way it would become more ethical and the food would be a lot more healthy.
Victoria Rosante
ReplyDeletePHI2604 MWF
Factory farming is now part of the world we are living in where profit is everything. Is it ethical to not only hurt innocent animals but possibly put many of our lives in danger as well for a quick profit? I dont think so. I happen to think that the owners of these factory farms are not looking at damages in the long run, but only their upfront profit. I do agree that we need the food but I also know that there are many humane ways to gain access to food, not ripping off a birds beak ect. If its illegal for any person walking on the street to mistreat an animal, why should factory farmers get the right of way? Its not like its an underground situation. Many people know about what they do to these animals and the situation needs to be monitored more closely and hopefully a solution will arise and benefit all of us, including the animals.
Loriet Martinez
ReplyDeleteIs factory farming ethical? That is a controversial question here in the United States. In my opinion it is unethical because not only does it violate the right of animals but also puts the health of human being endangered. Regardless of what view you follow animals still have right, right that are not respected in farming factory. For example, in farming factory animals hardly see the sun light. Because what farmers care about is to increase production, the food that is provide to those animals is full of growth hormones which are not natural at all. Additionally, in farming factory the rules of sanitary are not really fallowed, so they feed low doses of antibiotics to make animals grow even faster. People who are in charge to keep running those places don’t even look at how clean or healthy the area is. They just care about how fast animals are reproducing and gaining weight. Most of the time in farming factory they treat animals as mean to an end. In regard to the human health the amount of growth hormones giving to these animals that are later consumed by the people could prove to be harmful to the health of those who consume them later on.
For factory farming, I personally think its something extremely unethical. Ethics doesn't only apply to humans. It applies to all living organisms. In the wild, you don't see other animals hurting other animals for the sake of entertainment or food. Factory farming is basic torture of animals. You're treating an animals with cruel actions, disrespect, and no sympathy for the animal what so ever.Putting animals in such horrid living conditions is no way to have another life form live like. There are possibilities of factory farming where living conditions, free range, and better handling of the animals is possible for our world. There's always solutions to problems.
ReplyDeleteGeraldine Flores
ReplyDeleteM, W, F 11:00-11:50
PHI 2604
I believe that factoring farming is unethical and morally wrong. Animals are creatures with feelings and minds. Also factoring farming affects the environment in negative ways, therefore affects us. Factoring farming goals is to product as much food as possible with the lowest production cost. Of course, there are certain aspects large productions cut to save money; Like reasonable space for the animals, and proper food supply. For example, thousand of hens are kept in barn close together for only one purpose- to lay eggs. Once they can’t produce anymore eggs, there are considered useless. It is absolutely horrible.
Also, the environment is hurting. The thousands of tons of animal waste must go somewhere. Sometimes it lands on the soil and then it may end up in our drinking water. Also aqua farming pollutes the water and it can affect other species. Factoring farming must be put to stop because cruelty against animals will always be considered unethical. Humans do not have any right to treat defenseless animals as such.
Estrella Alvarado
ReplyDeletePhi2604 MWF
Factory Farming is without a doubt, unethical. Animals are victims of slaughtering if considered "useless" for food production. They live under terrible conditions, they clearly suffered since they are just considered instruments. On the other end of the spectrum, people behind it are clear examples of egoists. All moral values are put aside to fulfill economic interests, compromising others well being, in this case, the animals used for food production. Beyond unethical, I strongly believe Factory farming is a form of Animal Cruelty. Regulations should be enforced, monitored closely & punishable if violated.
Although debatable, I do think that factory farming is not ethical. It is understandable that we have a big demand on animals such as cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens etc. Specially on holidays such as Thanksgiving when millions of turkeys are consumed, but the way this animals are raised isn't ethical, because they are treating them like machines, giving them hormones to grow and to produce fast so that the consumers can be happy. These animals deserve better treatment, to be raised in a natural environment,and not die like it happens to many of them because they are raised in small spaces with so many of them, aside from this, those hormones they aren't healthy for the consumer either. There is no need to eat all these products of antibiotics when humans can eat fresh naturally grown animals. Ethics pertains to what's right from wrong and as stated in the above article, there is more wrongs than right
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