California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

yzoldowl — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:02:59 GMT

At one and the same time all these 'laws' are being passed, the USDA wants to shove a National Animal Identification System -- NAIS -- down the throats of every man, woman, and child in the USA who owns a cow, pig, sheep, goat or chicken in the name of 'International Trade' and 'food safety.' Hah! This tactic, pushed by the major factory farm interests, could put the small farmer out of business, so we would all _have_ to eat meat from feedlots and caged stock, or do without.

I eat eggs and meat all right, but I sure don't get them from our local Kroger's! I buy my eggs from a local friend whose hens are let out each day to scratch dirt and live as chickens. I buy what little meat I need at a local farmer's market, where I have found a lady who sells Piedmontese (read: lean and tasty) beef from cattle who are allowed a natural life and slaughtered in a humane manner. Absolutely I do not support factory farming in any way.

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

CATRYNA_203 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:50:02 GMT

The egg industry is indeed despicable. I live in a town called Ramona in

California. Ramona is surrounded by egg ranches and dairies. On any given

day (especially in the summer months of 100+ degrees) the stench of these

places would make a vulture gag. As Mercola has already brought up some of

the facts surrounding the plight of chickens in previous articles, I will only add

that the odors given off from these places is a mixture of rotting eggs, death and

***. When driving by these areas the only option is holding your breath, believe me.

It is common knowledge that the feed is laced with antibiotics and hormones because

of the living conditions, which has already been described (and quite well). But the fact

of the matter is these chickens are kept on a 12 hour clock meaning their environment is

controlled; six hours of lights on and 6 hours of darkness. This, along with the hormones,

in their feed, forces them to lay two eggs a day. Most hens have a life span of 8 to 10 years

with only about 3 to 5 years of that as egg layers. Commercial laying hens last 6 months and

then they are worn out and are disposed of and replaced. Not only that but living near these

egg ranches can have a devastating effect on your health, because of the filth in the air.

As far as the dairy industry is concerned, I have witnessed cows in our area standing or lying in hock deep

mud/*** and their calves born into this slime. I have also witnessed more than one calf dying and

left in this mess for a day or two before being dragged off. And, more of the cows had abcessed

udders than not. Do these sound like animals you would want to have anything to do with on any

level, much less eat or drink what they produce? I think not!!

Raw milk here is $7.50 for a half gallon which equates to about 94 cents. Still under a dollar, but

not the price Dr. Mercola finds it. Of course, there is no commercial direct source of raw milk in the

San Diego area any more as the health department has driven them all out of business, years ago,

with their shamless lies and illegal leverage and antics. I have to wonder where Dr. Mercola is getting

some of his pricing. Blueberries? Under a dollar for a cup? Where pray tell is that?

Even at any of our Farmer’s Markets in the area (produce is cheaper than the grocers) the price

is much more than 95 cents.(Like $3-$3.50 a pint) Hmmmmm

Juicing, sprouting and making nut milks have always been a mainstay when I was growing up, when I

was raising my children and now the grandchildren have entered the arena. And, is a cheap source of

excellent nourishment.

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

Pwyll — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:08:36 GMT

It is interesting, that as humans--the conditioning is such, that, we are taught how superior we are---from our parents, our schools and our religions. We grow up thinking that we have dominion over everything--and we certainly act that way. In a flight of fancy---contemplate the possibility--that other life forms on the planet actually may have influence on us in ways we are not aware--because our thoughts prevent us from thinking otherwise. Consider an interesting possibility that plants affect us in ways which enhance their spread and survival. Agricultural plots, 'superior' strains--which we think we are planting for our own food-- which we are--yet--the likes of which we are spreading more and more---like alfalfa--for the cows--. It is an interesting--and i find, entertaining hypothesis--which i did not conjure first.

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

4Hand Healthy — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:14:39 GMT

TexDawn,if you don't believe scripture,then this post is futile;but if you do ,then read Genesis1:26-28

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

sortashaman — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:27:40 GMT

Another article which makes me more convinced to raise more of my own food, and to support the local, organic farms and farmers' markets. We have the space to do some extensive gardening, though it will take a number of years to develop the beds. Fortunately, we're starting out with fairly rich, deep soils which have been in grass, clover and alfalfa for many years; apparently, the Prairie mollisoils (sp?) are very rich. Because our growing season is so short (I'm in SW North Dakota with about a 90 day frost-free season--in a good year), I'm investigating greenhouses as well to at least extend the season. I've been intrigued with Anna Edey's "Solviva" designs with which she had good success.

Another book recommendation: "The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved" by Sandor Ellix Katz. He shares a number of interesting eating alternatives, from dairy to organic veggies/fruits, to meat, to eating roadkill(!!) An interesting read, in any case.

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

4Hand Healthy — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:10:28 GMT

TexDawn this gets into a subject that some may find inappropriate for this forum,so I'll be brief and to the point. I believe humans are somewhat more worthy than other living things because we were created in God's image and animals were not.God also gave man dominion over all living things. We should be good stewards of this earth and of our food supply(including tasty animals) To me , this means NO animal cruelty. I have animals (chickens,dogs and a cat),and try to have a healthy respect for ALL life.

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

TexDawn — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:52:32 GMT

OMG it makes me insane to hear someone casually say that poverty is a choice. No one chooses to live in poverty, sometimes there really is no option.

I'd like to see people who make such sweeping statements try to live, work, raise at least one child, and still pull themselves out of poverty on the amount of money that qualifies as "poverty" in this country. All that and remember that many times the poverty stricken don't even know there are other ways to live.

Reminds me once, shortly after 9/11 one of my office peers commented that the people in Iraq all seem to have bad teeth, and why didn't they go to the dentist? After I picked myself up off the floor from shock, I explained to her that there are very few dentists available and that dentistry might be low on their priority list. She still didn't get it and asked me why they didn't just go to the 'free clinics'. Well, I tell her, should we tell them just to leave their 5 kids on the farm alone (along with the animals who won't get fed/watered/milked) and walk 30 miles through the mountains only to stand in line for a week just to get turned away because the need is not great enough? I still don't think she ever "got it", but I did try to enlighten her pea-picking little heart.

Go work for the peace corp for a few years and that ridiculous attitude about poverty will be beat out really fast.

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

RachaelWinstead — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:23:09 GMT

I haven't had any meat or eggs from the grocery store in almost two years (reading the Omnivore's Dilemma had a big impact). In Oklahoma, we have a food cooperative. I buy beef, buffalo, chicken, eggs, cheese, butter and vegetables, as well as some non-food products. You can actually go meet the men and women who raise your food. They have to disclose all their practices and the co-op forbids any CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) and encourages them to be as organic as possible. Sure, it's more expensive than the grocery store but the health of my family (and the better treatment of the animals) is worth it. If you've never eaten this way - farm fresh eggs with bright orange yolks, the tastiest meat, fresh-picked produce - you don't know what you're missing. I know there are food co-ops in other states, but if yours doesn't have one, take the initiative and start one! I guarantee you will find plenty of other interested people and the local small farmer will be of course be more than happy to assist. www.oklahomafood.coop if you want to look a model. If everyone buys local and buys ethically, big, cruel agribusiness will go away!

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

squeegee — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:31:26 GMT

I will probably get negative points for saying this. The new law will probably raise the price of farm-original products, meaning that a very small group of poor people will no longer be able to afford them and will start buying something else that is cheaper...

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

tamnadia72 — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:49:29 GMT

Reading another excellent book on this topic: ANIMAL,VEGETABLE,MIRACLE. Novelist Barbara Kingsolver and her family tire of seeing drought out the window in Tucson, and of eating only food that is trucked in from elsewhere, and hie back to their ancestral lands in Appalachian Virginia to farm everything they eat for a year. Evocative and filled with useful facts--just wonderful!

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

aarp — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:48:44 GMT

Well i guess we need to get all of these factory workers and office staff out of the crowded work environment so they can be free roaming. It would reduce the obesity and heart attack rates. It is cruel to confine a person to a small area for 8 to 10 hours a day.

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

Veslemor — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:28:48 GMT

As I was reading this article, I had a question: I wonder what the right-leaning folks on this site think about this? Do we come together on this issue, or are they still aliens to me?

And so I scroll down to the VV, and there it is. The aliens think this is about lawers, not animals. I don't understand.

I'm from the midwest. I've been to these "farms". I could tell hideous stories that'd make you want to cry and swear off meat. I think that Mercola hits the nail on the head when he talks about you and the farmer being strangers to one another. I feel really blessed to know the name of the cow whose milk I buy.

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

WellAware — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:41:13 GMT

READING AN excellent book right now titled OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA. About this very topic. Excellent. i totally agree with any move to reduce cruelty to animals in factory farms...

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

Islander — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:03:35 GMT

Testing....
I'm wondering whether I'll get dinged for admitting that I eat my chickens.

I've raised my own meat for 34 years. My animals run free, eat their heads off, never see a dentist, never pay taxes, never go through an ugly divorce. Now that I live alone I have had to cut back, but right now I have 5 broilers that will be going in my freezer in a couple of weeks. They are totally free range (in fact they were on my deck yesterday morning, looking in my screen door - who knew they could climb stairs?) - and the truth is, they are cute little buggers. Jeez, they come when I call! I've gotten used to having them around...but meat is meat and when the time comes I will have no problem dispatching them humanely, plucking and cleaning them. Besides, there is no more wholesome and tastier chicken, and there has to be some advantage to the fact that they led a free and happy life until the very last minute.

I don't think it's a bad thing to know where our food comes from, how it was raised or grown...and to participate in that process makes us an intimate part of the cycle of life and death and life.

re: California Weighs Sweeping Laws Against Factory Farm Cruelty

4Hand Healthy — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:35:01 GMT

We should always treat animals in a way that shows respect for life...(ALL life is sacred),however I stop just shy of giving animals "rights".Human beings have rights... animals do not. I don't agree with cruelty to any animal, and the way that these animals are treated is cruel indeed,but let's not equate them with people for they are not human.I know I will probably get dinged with negative points, but there it is.