The Unacknowledged Cruelty of Factory Farming

By Kaela Nachazel
Opinion Submission | The Pacific Times

Animal Cruelty. Abuse. Neglect. These are nationwide problems that often go overlooked and unacknowledged. Glossed over with a happy cow logo or a cheery cartoon of a rooster next to a rising sun, we fail to acknowledge the realities of what occurs within the factory farming industries that take over America. Many may wish to believe that our nation limits the cruelties farm animals endure before becoming our next meal; however, the unnecessary extent to which they endure suffering is mortifying. Maximizing our efficiency and profit at the expense of animal welfare seems to be a phenomenon that goes unnoticed and disregarded. If human convenience warrants the torture of innocent beings, to what extent can we claim ourselves to be human?

Due to factory farming, nearly ten billion farm animals raised each year in the U.S. suffer from poor and unethical living conditions. Over ninety nine percent of farm animals in the United States are raised in factory farms which focus on profit and efficiency at the expense of animal welfare. Everyday, millions of animals will suffer mutilation, confinement, and other forms of cruelty for the convenience of humans. One source says that in polling, ninety four percent of Americans agree that animals raised for food deserve to live free from cruelty or abuse. With this statistic in mind, it is staggering that many still buy into the false propaganda fed by these industries to allude to a fantasy that is far from the truth. Very little care is regarded to the male chicks thrown into grinders alive because they are no use in the egg laying industry, to the chickens that have their beaks cut off so they can’t peck at each other when confined, or to the cows hooked up to multiple tubes and machines in unsanitary living conditions. Ultimately, human ethics would argue how profoundly wrong the actions taken by these industries are, yet their power and profit put them on a pedestal where they are untouchable. I believe it is time that humans fight for a cause and issue beyond themselves.

This is why I decided to build a website, BenevolentFarming.com. The inspiration for this website came from my personal exposure to this issue through social media. When people are educated on the topic, their minds become more open to actively impacting it. I believe that all should be informed and I’m committed to providing just that. I encourage all to explore the site to learn more about what it has to offer, and get involved by posting on the blog. Benevolent Farming is here to educate, spread awareness, encourage others to make a difference, and show them how they can.

To conclude, with the factory farming industry profiting off of millions of Americans nationwide, the industry is growing and the amount of animals that suffer through inhumane conditions increases each year. What makes us as humans so willing to turn a blind eye and go into denial? A wake up call is necessary. Ignoring the issue does not mean it doesn’t exist. I chose this topic for my senior project because I believe that we need to be more proactive, and make more conscious decisions. Contrary to what some may think I didn’t choose this topic to encourage people to boycott meat; however, I want people to have a more conscientious understanding of the sources from which they are obtaining their meat and dairy products. It’s an important that we gain an understanding of the industries which we are unknowingly providing support to, and the cruelties our dollars are funding.

Kaela Nachazel is a current NP3 student whose senior project opinion piece was submitted and published by The Pacific Times.