Cattle Farming: The Truth Behind the Burger

Cattle Farming: The Truth behind the Burger

                Many Americans eat beef, but do they know where it comes from? How about the conditions on the farms? It’s probable the average Americans have no idea what animals go through before they end up on our plates. The reality of a cattle farm is much more grim that the picture painted by the media of a happy cow. The Conditions on farms affects more than just the animals and the workers alike, they effects the environment. What is the government doing about this? Not much, But I believe the government should make the big industrial farming companies pay for their mistreatment of animals and the environment. I will explain why and how this should be accomplished.

                First let’s begin with the cattle. Cows are bred for our meat, milk, and other food products. From the moment they are born cows are predestined to head to the slaughter house. The cattle live in horrendous conditions until they get to the slaughterhouse.  Cattle are packed tightly in pens with little or no room to move. Since there is no room the cows tend to urinate and defecate where they stand. These two factors alone are serious threats to animals and workers because these conditions breed germs and viruses.  To prevent disease antibiotics is used in the feed given to these animals. According to Nicolette Hahn Niman “About 80 percent of antibiotics used in the United States each year are in the daily feed of farm animals, mostly to enable keeping animals in densely crowded conditions, which reduces costs”. Due to this over use of antibiotics super strains of viruses are created. These viruses are resistant to antibiotics and pose a threat to anyone who encounters them.

                The feed given to the cattle are mostly made of corn. “We have come to think of ‘cornfed’ as some kind of old-fashioned virtue; we shouldn’t. Granted, a cornfed cow develops well-marbled flesh, giving it a taste and texture American consumers have learned to like. Yet this meat is demonstrably less healthy to eat, since it contains more saturated fat”(Pollen  4). Cows eat grass, so their bodies cannot process the feed given to them. This creates many problems for cows such as heartburn and liver failure, some cases so severe the cow would eat dirt and scratch at their stomach. Many other chemicals like proteins from pigs, fish, and chicken manure, as well as antibiotics for heart burn and pain medications are put in the feed.  The end result is a steak full of saturated fats which is no good for people.

                This is why the government should do two things limit the use of antibiotics in cattle feed and instead of over subsidizing corn, the government should subsidize grass. By limiting the amount of antibiotics used the factory farming industry will have to separate the cattle so the risks of viruses spreading are lowered also providing comfort to the cattle. If grass and hay are subsidized this will further lessen the need for antibiotics as well as keep the cattle healthy which in turns gives us better meat. Of course this will slow down meat production times because a corn- fed diet causes the cattle to gain weight twice as fast,

                Next is on to the environment. The factory farming industry acts without thinking about the environment, and the EPA seems to be too lenient on the industry. The waste from the factories contaminates water in rivers and lakes. Most towns near factory farms usually have the highest rate of illness. The EPA reevaluated it laws on dumping the waste in rivers. “Under the rules, a feedlot would not automatically have to obtain a pollution discharge permit and could be certified as voluntarily complying with the ‘zero discharge’ standard. Operators would determine whether their facility is releasing or will release pollution into waterways based on the design of the facility and its operation. If they conclude no discharges will take place, they can operate without applying for a federal permit.” (Hebert)What about land dumping? The manure dumped on land contaminates soil and underground rivers.

                I think the EPA should tighten the laws on waste dumping and actually fine the big industrial farming companies for their wrong doings. If the industrial farming companies were to utilize the waste in a more innovative way there wouldn’t be a need for dumping. Such as “Israel and Korea are among the countries experimenting with using animal waste to generate electricity. Some of the biggest hog operations in the United States are working, with some success, to turn manure into fuel.”(Bittman 2) If these technologies are applied to cattle farms, much advancement can be made in the industry.

                So as you can see the technology and methods are there to improve the welfare of cows. As well as lessen the effects on the environment.  If the industrial farming industry does not attempt to improve the welfare of cattle and their effects on the environment, then it is up to the government to make laws to make them change. It is also up to the government to enforce the laws it create and put big business in its place. That’s really the only way anything is going to get done. Hopefully the people can convince the government to make a change and right the wrong created by industrial farming.