Factory farming
Factory farming refers to large-scale, industrialized, intensive rearing of livestock, poultry and fish. The practice is widespread in developed nations - much of the meat, dairy and eggs available in supermarkets is raised in this manner.The term factory farming is favored by environmental activists and organic consumer groups, and usually has a negative connotation. It describes extreme forms of intensive animal agriculture for which there is no other common label.
Operations typically called factory farms focus on producing a marketable product at the lowest unit cost. Common factory farming practices include:
- restricted space - To save space, animals are permanently confined to small indoor areas, often unable to turn around or move without contacting other animals.
- drug programs - Antibiotics, vitamins, hormones, and other supplements are administered regularly, in part to counteract the effects of crowding.
- alternative feed - Various materials that contain vital nutrients are substituted for traditional feed (eg: cows are fed poultry litter in place of hay and grain; calves are given cow blood protein concentrate in place of mother's milk).
- nutrient management - Generated manure and urine are automatically collected in a local sewage system and redistributed to local agricultural lands.
- Animals raised on antibiotics are breeding superstrains of various diseases.
- Concentrated animal waste is polluting the groundwater.
- Intensive agriculture is necessary to meet food demand.
- Properly run factory farms meet government standards for safe and humane food production.
