Expert insights. Personalized for you.
In " Move to Limit 'Factor Farms' Gains Momentum " in today's New York Times , we learn that farmers in Ohio have agreed to phase out gestation crates within 15 years and veal crates by 2017. Irv Bell's farm is a family farm. It's also a factory farm. The marketing of an operation of breeding and slaughtering sentient nonhumans as a family farm (here, Bell straddles the line) is supposed to trigger some kind of compassion for the humans. MORE
Tags: farm animal welfare factory farm agribusiness MORE
Sponsor a sanctuary animal MORE
Please note that the illegal bile farm was Taiwanese-owned. It's great that they were saved, but t hey arrived at the rescue center in wretched condition. Moon bears are rare, which makes this all the sadder. Again, the China connection. I can't read such stuff without being sickened by my species. Thank Animals Asia for the rescue. They are an amazing organization that we support financially.). MORE
While the Humane Society was pretty happy with Vilsack as Obama's pick for the Department of Agriculture, the Farm Sanctuary is wary. Bauer is the president and co-founder of the Farm Sanctuary. I’m glad that Obama didn’t select Charles Stenholm, a former Texas congressman with a long history of defending animal abuse, who had sought the position with support from the factory farming industry. Tags: Obama USDA farm animal welfare factory farm us agribusiness MORE
“But what would we do with all the animals that are currently on farms? You want all the farm animals to just die ?&#. Yes, that is why I’m vegan - because I’d like all the farm animals to DIE! If they did, I guess I’d have to give some pretty serious thought to what would happen to the billions upon billions of animals that are currently suffering on farms everywhere. Many farmed animals would be able to do the same if given the opportunity. MORE
Animal welfare groups led by the Humane Society of the United States have agreed to abandon a fall ballot issue against animal cruelty as part of a deal with state farm groups brokered by Gov. Ted Strickland.The deal calls for Strickland, the Humane Society, the Ohio Farm Bureau and their partners to join forces in favor of tougher laws governing farm animals, including provisions that ban certain crates and cages and the use of strangulation as a form of euthanasia. MORE
Here is an interesting 10 minute documentary about the effect of growing cheap animal feed in Latin America for European factory farms and how it effects the environment and people. Tags: factory farm MORE
Here is a New York Times editorial opinion about factory farming. I have added the Factory Farm Map to the blogroll MORE
downed animals USDA gene bauer farm animal welfare farm sanctuaryHard to read emotionally, but short and informative. Written by Gene Bauer and appearing in the Huffington Post. MORE
Tags: animal abuse eggs farm animal welfare factory farm chickens MORE
Here's a book that you can buy about rescued farm animals and their stories. farm animal welfare farm sanctuaryLove this group! It should be inspiring and it's a great way to support an extraordinary organization. MORE
No wonder there is so much "farm" animal abuse out there. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, “farm animals are regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) only when used in biomedical research, testing, teaching and exhibition. Farm animals used for food and fiber or for food and fiber research are not regulated under the AWA.”.Unlike Tags: animal cruelty proposition 2 cattle farm animal welfare agribusiness This is really interesting. MORE
Issue 2 in Ohio would create 13-member state board to oversee the care of farm animals in the State. The Humane Society and other groups oppose it as a power grab by big agriculture to prevent another Proposition 2 (the initiative passed last year in California to improve standards for farm animal care.) Tags: ohio farm animal welfare us agribusiness MORE
Many believe that the solution to our wild fish problems is to promote farmed alternatives. Here's an article spotlighting farmed fishing in Chile. Eat farmed fish and create other environmental perils. But, as with any kind of mass production, this is filled with all kinds of risks. It's really damned if you do and damned if you don't. Eat wild runs and cause their extinction. Best not to eat either. MORE
farm animal welfare farm sanctuaryThis sounds wonderful. It will be in Arlington, VA at the end of October. Someday, if it becomes an annual event, I hope I can go. link]. MORE
From the Farm Sanctuary. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Meredith Turner, Farm Sanctuary, 646-369-6212, mturner@farmsanctuary.org 2011 Walk for Farm Animals Aims to Raise $1 Million for Abused and Neglected Farm Animals Thousands of People in More Than 35 Cities Across North America to Gather for Family-Friendly Event That Promotes Compassion for ALL Animals WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. farm animal welfare farm sanctuary MORE
Katie Couric did a story on the use of antibiotics on factory farms in the US and the potential harm to humans. Of course, the question remains as to whether these animals should be in these factory farming conditions in the first place, regardless of antibiotics' use. Tags: antibiotics cbs farm animal welfare factory farm agriculture agribusiness This occurred a week or so ago. MORE
Click here if you'd like to sponsor a farm animal in need for Valentine's Day MORE
A Union County grand jury has decided the owner of a Union County dairy farm caught in an abuse scandal should not face criminal charges.on Tags: ohio animal enterprise terrorism act mercy for animals farm animal welfare From the Columbus Dispatch. the tape {from an undercover investigation by Mercy for Animals,) Conklin is shown kicking a cow that is lying down. MORE
Once again, the wonderful Mercy for Animals provides footage of possible abuse of turkeys at a Butterball farm in North Carolina. meat mercy for animals turkeys North Carolina farm animal welfareThe full story is at CNN. MORE
Thanks to Farmed Animal Net for this information from August 8. In a unanimous decision, New Jersey’s Supreme Court rejected a broad challenge by animal protection advocates to the state’s rules on the care of farmed animals) but struck down regulations that regard husbandry practices as being “humane” merely because they are routine. Department of Agriculture (NJDA) was ordered to readdress a number of its mandated standards for farmed animal treatment. MORE
Our featured beer this week is Bramble, a dry-hopped farmhouse ale from the Arrowood Farm Brewery of Accord, New York, made with – as the name suggests – raspberries. Considering all that, it’s no small miracle that Arrowood Farm Brewery was able to spare enough local raspberries from the insatiable appetites of birds to make Bramble. The fruit was handpicked at Arrowood’s Hudson Valley neighbor Kelder’s Farm, who also supplied the malt for this beer. MORE
Called Death on a Factory Farm, the documentary shows animal cruelty on a hog farm in Ohio. You can read about it here MORE
I agree with Nicholas Kristof that factory farms will eventually be banned by law. I also agree that it will be a good thing. Addendum: Here are comments on Kristof's column MORE
Last night HBO premiered a show called Death on a Factory Farm. Viewer discretion advised on the clip below… Tags: Animal Cruelty Animal Rights Animal Welfare Factory Farming Farmed Animals animal suffering gestation crates pigs videos This is a small segment. I haven’t seen the whole thing yet, and am not sure if I’ll be able to stomach it, but I do have a friend recording it for me. Has anyone else seen it? What were your thoughts? MORE
Animal rights activists are behind the burning of cattle trucks at Harris Farms in western Fresno County early Sunday, according to a statement released by a clearinghouse for activists. The statement purports to describe how the fire, which heavily damaged 14 tractors and several cattle-hauling trailers, was set and says the attack was aimed at "the horrors of factory farming." california activism san joaquin valley cows farm animal welfare agriculture MORE
The BBC has an article about the spreading practice of "farming" tigers. MORE
50 surviving horses were rescued. For the full story, go here to KLTV.com. The Humane Society of the United States, SPCA of East Texas and Humane Society of North Texas worked with the Smith County District Attorney's Office to rescue 50 horses from a Lindale property. The District Attorney's office served a seizure warrant to the owner of the horses Tuesday, opening the door for the rescue team to begin removal on Wednesday. MORE
Safeway and Kroger have announced they're halting all purchases of the farm's pork. mercy for animals Iowa pigs pork farm animal welfare factory farmMercy for Animals is trying to convince Costco to do the same. News story is from the end of June. Almost let that one slip by! MORE
Tags: farm animal welfare MORE
They've issued a report that throws a negative light on the EPA trying to ELIMINATE EVEN MORE REGULATION of factory farms. Some huge livestock farms produce more raw waste than cities as large as Philadelphia or Houston. The Government Accountability Office report on the raw waste is to be released Wednesday to a House committee hearing on federal oversight of factory farms. Tags: EPA environment factory farm us MORE
World Farm Animals Day was today. Tags: depressed farm animal welfare Perhaps it's because of gloomy October or maybe it's because I'm getting over the flu, but I felt very sad. There was a picture on the bus commemorating the event with a picture of a cow looking, dare I say it, noble and long-suffering. But I just kept wondering if anyone besides me on that bus cared? How depressing. MORE
In other words, the proverbial happy farm animal. However, the factory farm system we have in any country does not lend itself to either of the two criteria. And if you ever drive around an egg farm, hog farm, slaughterhouse, feeding lot, etc., I highly recommend Farm Sanctuary's issue page.short and to the point.) There are probably no happy animals in factory farming (ie. Factory farms are unlikely to be properly and regularly inspected by the USDA. MORE
Last week there was a slew of articles about the agreement in Ohio between the farm industry and animal welfare activists to expand cage sizes for calves (veal), hens and pigs. Tags: ohio eggs california humane society farm animal welfare factory farm Well, maybe, although I think there is still a long way to go. MORE
Farm Sanctuary recently came to the aid of six male Holstein calves, several just days old, who had been abandoned without food or water and left for dead. Farm Sanctuary operates the country’s largest farm animal rescue and adoption network. When their shelters are full, they depend on compassionate people who want to make a direct difference for a suffering cow, pig, chicken or other farm animal. Farm Sanctuary needs help. MORE
Photo of a Golden Eagle at a Wyoming wind farm by Dina Cappiello/Associated Press. wind-energy company has admitted that its farms have killed birds, and has settled with prosecutors. law against causing the deaths of protected birds without a permit (and no wind-energy farms seem to have such permits). expressed particular regret that its wind farms killed two Golden Eagles. News Golden Eagles wind farms Wind turbines MORE
The problem of the unjust use of farm animals is large, growing, historical, institutionalized, governmentally encouraged, and fundamentally unregulated at either the state or federal level. Farm animals are treated essentially as raw materials. Their interests are primarily protected, if at all, through archaic state anti-cruelty statutes that were not passed in contemplation of the factory-farm or genetic engineering. MORE
European Starlings are fond of farms and human activity in general, so it came as no surprise that I was able to find evidence of them breeding so easily at Normanskill Farm, a working farm in Albany, New York that’s become my favorite local patch. MORE
A new study, published online in Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, suggests that animal assisted therapy for people with mental disorders can be effective with farm animals. After six months of animal assisted therapy with farm animals, all patients reported significantly increased coping skills. Tags: animal-assisted therapy farm animal welfare It's not just cats and dogs! The study was released in April 2008, but I think it is still worth noting. MORE
Tags: europe portugal farm animal welfare MORE
The farmers in the film confront very difficult questions posed by the filmmaker about why they think their approach to processing of meat is different than that of factory farming. This film provides an accurate portrayal of small-scale, non-intensive animal farming. This is as humane as "humane farming" gets. MORE
Tags: Swine Flu factory farm MORE
Farming Related Topics Critter News
JUNE 15, 2011
Here's a book that you can buy about rescued farm animals and their stories. farm animal welfare farm sanctuaryLove this group! It should be inspiring and it's a great way to support an extraordinary organization.
Critter News
SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
farm animal welfare farm sanctuaryThis sounds wonderful. It will be in Arlington, VA at the end of October. Someday, if it becomes an annual event, I hope I can go. link].
Critter News
JANUARY 10, 2012
Once again, the wonderful Mercy for Animals provides footage of possible abuse of turkeys at a Butterball farm in North Carolina. meat mercy for animals turkeys North Carolina farm animal welfareThe full story is at CNN.
Critter News
MARCH 6, 2011
downed animals USDA gene bauer farm animal welfare farm sanctuaryHard to read emotionally, but short and informative. Written by Gene Bauer and appearing in the Huffington Post.
Critter News
APRIL 7, 2010
Tags: animal abuse eggs farm animal welfare factory farm chickens
Critter News
AUGUST 15, 2010
Last week there was a slew of articles about the agreement in Ohio between the farm industry and animal welfare activists to expand cage sizes for calves (veal), hens and pigs. Tags: ohio eggs california humane society farm animal welfare factory farm Well, maybe, although I think there is still a long way to go.
Critter News
JANUARY 11, 2012
Animal rights activists are behind the burning of cattle trucks at Harris Farms in western Fresno County early Sunday, according to a statement released by a clearinghouse for activists. The statement purports to describe how the fire, which heavily damaged 14 tractors and several cattle-hauling trailers, was set and says the attack was aimed at "the horrors of factory farming." california activism san joaquin valley cows farm animal welfare agriculture
Critter News
JULY 20, 2011
Safeway and Kroger have announced they're halting all purchases of the farm's pork. mercy for animals Iowa pigs pork farm animal welfare factory farmMercy for Animals is trying to convince Costco to do the same. News story is from the end of June. Almost let that one slip by!
10,000 Birds
JULY 31, 2020
European Starlings are fond of farms and human activity in general, so it came as no surprise that I was able to find evidence of them breeding so easily at Normanskill Farm, a working farm in Albany, New York that’s become my favorite local patch.
Animal Person
AUGUST 12, 2010
In " Move to Limit 'Factor Farms' Gains Momentum " in today's New York Times , we learn that farmers in Ohio have agreed to phase out gestation crates within 15 years and veal crates by 2017. Irv Bell's farm is a family farm. It's also a factory farm. The marketing of an operation of breeding and slaughtering sentient nonhumans as a family farm (here, Bell straddles the line) is supposed to trigger some kind of compassion for the humans.
Critter News
JANUARY 30, 2010
The BBC has an article about the spreading practice of "farming" tigers.
Critter News
FEBRUARY 20, 2010
Katie Couric did a story on the use of antibiotics on factory farms in the US and the potential harm to humans. Of course, the question remains as to whether these animals should be in these factory farming conditions in the first place, regardless of antibiotics' use. Tags: antibiotics cbs farm animal welfare factory farm agriculture agribusiness This occurred a week or so ago.
Critter News
OCTOBER 16, 2009
Here is an interesting 10 minute documentary about the effect of growing cheap animal feed in Latin America for European factory farms and how it effects the environment and people. Tags: factory farm
Critter News
JULY 3, 2010
Animal welfare groups led by the Humane Society of the United States have agreed to abandon a fall ballot issue against animal cruelty as part of a deal with state farm groups brokered by Gov. Ted Strickland.The deal calls for Strickland, the Humane Society, the Ohio Farm Bureau and their partners to join forces in favor of tougher laws governing farm animals, including provisions that ban certain crates and cages and the use of strangulation as a form of euthanasia.
4 The Love Of Animals
JUNE 15, 2010
Farm Sanctuary recently came to the aid of six male Holstein calves, several just days old, who had been abandoned without food or water and left for dead. Farm Sanctuary operates the country’s largest farm animal rescue and adoption network. When their shelters are full, they depend on compassionate people who want to make a direct difference for a suffering cow, pig, chicken or other farm animal. Farm Sanctuary needs help.
Critter News
OCTOBER 9, 2008
Tags: animal abuse animal cruelty pigs farm animal welfare
Critter News
OCTOBER 2, 2009
World Farm Animals Day was today. Tags: depressed farm animal welfare Perhaps it's because of gloomy October or maybe it's because I'm getting over the flu, but I felt very sad. There was a picture on the bus commemorating the event with a picture of a cow looking, dare I say it, noble and long-suffering. But I just kept wondering if anyone besides me on that bus cared? How depressing.
Critter News
JULY 10, 2010
A Union County grand jury has decided the owner of a Union County dairy farm caught in an abuse scandal should not face criminal charges.on Tags: ohio animal enterprise terrorism act mercy for animals farm animal welfare From the Columbus Dispatch. the tape {from an undercover investigation by Mercy for Animals,) Conklin is shown kicking a cow that is lying down.
Critter News
APRIL 1, 2009
In other words, the proverbial happy farm animal. However, the factory farm system we have in any country does not lend itself to either of the two criteria. And if you ever drive around an egg farm, hog farm, slaughterhouse, feeding lot, etc., I highly recommend Farm Sanctuary's issue page.short and to the point.) There are probably no happy animals in factory farming (ie. Factory farms are unlikely to be properly and regularly inspected by the USDA.
Critter News
AUGUST 28, 2009
Tags: farm animal welfare factory farm agribusiness
Critter News
APRIL 13, 2009
No wonder there is so much "farm" animal abuse out there. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, “farm animals are regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) only when used in biomedical research, testing, teaching and exhibition. Farm animals used for food and fiber or for food and fiber research are not regulated under the AWA.”.Unlike Tags: animal cruelty proposition 2 cattle farm animal welfare agribusiness This is really interesting.
Critter News
OCTOBER 7, 2008
A new study, published online in Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, suggests that animal assisted therapy for people with mental disorders can be effective with farm animals. After six months of animal assisted therapy with farm animals, all patients reported significantly increased coping skills. Tags: animal-assisted therapy farm animal welfare It's not just cats and dogs! The study was released in April 2008, but I think it is still worth noting.
Critter News
OCTOBER 14, 2008
They've issued a report that throws a negative light on the EPA trying to ELIMINATE EVEN MORE REGULATION of factory farms. Some huge livestock farms produce more raw waste than cities as large as Philadelphia or Houston. The Government Accountability Office report on the raw waste is to be released Wednesday to a House committee hearing on federal oversight of factory farms. Tags: EPA environment factory farm us
10,000 Birds
MARCH 20, 2020
Our featured beer this week is Bramble, a dry-hopped farmhouse ale from the Arrowood Farm Brewery of Accord, New York, made with – as the name suggests – raspberries. Considering all that, it’s no small miracle that Arrowood Farm Brewery was able to spare enough local raspberries from the insatiable appetites of birds to make Bramble. The fruit was handpicked at Arrowood’s Hudson Valley neighbor Kelder’s Farm, who also supplied the malt for this beer.
Critter News
JANUARY 6, 2009
While the Humane Society was pretty happy with Vilsack as Obama's pick for the Department of Agriculture, the Farm Sanctuary is wary. Bauer is the president and co-founder of the Farm Sanctuary. I’m glad that Obama didn’t select Charles Stenholm, a former Texas congressman with a long history of defending animal abuse, who had sought the position with support from the factory farming industry. Tags: Obama USDA farm animal welfare factory farm us agribusiness
Animal Ethics
JANUARY 28, 2010
Click here if you'd like to sponsor a farm animal in need for Valentine's Day
Critter News
AUGUST 17, 2008
Thanks to Farmed Animal Net for this information from August 8. In a unanimous decision, New Jersey’s Supreme Court rejected a broad challenge by animal protection advocates to the state’s rules on the care of farmed animals) but struck down regulations that regard husbandry practices as being “humane” merely because they are routine. Department of Agriculture (NJDA) was ordered to readdress a number of its mandated standards for farmed animal treatment.
Critter News
OCTOBER 31, 2009
Issue 2 in Ohio would create 13-member state board to oversee the care of farm animals in the State. The Humane Society and other groups oppose it as a power grab by big agriculture to prevent another Proposition 2 (the initiative passed last year in California to improve standards for farm animal care.) Tags: ohio farm animal welfare us agribusiness
Critter News
OCTOBER 25, 2009
Many believe that the solution to our wild fish problems is to promote farmed alternatives. Here's an article spotlighting farmed fishing in Chile. Eat farmed fish and create other environmental perils. But, as with any kind of mass production, this is filled with all kinds of risks. It's really damned if you do and damned if you don't. Eat wild runs and cause their extinction. Best not to eat either.
Critter News
DECEMBER 28, 2009
Tags: europe portugal farm animal welfare
Creature Talk
MARCH 17, 2009
Last night HBO premiered a show called Death on a Factory Farm. Viewer discretion advised on the clip below… Tags: Animal Cruelty Animal Rights Animal Welfare Factory Farming Farmed Animals animal suffering gestation crates pigs videos This is a small segment. I haven’t seen the whole thing yet, and am not sure if I’ll be able to stomach it, but I do have a friend recording it for me. Has anyone else seen it? What were your thoughts?
Animal Ethics
FEBRUARY 22, 2010
The farmers in the film confront very difficult questions posed by the filmmaker about why they think their approach to processing of meat is different than that of factory farming. This film provides an accurate portrayal of small-scale, non-intensive animal farming. This is as humane as "humane farming" gets.
Critter News
APRIL 28, 2009
Tags: Swine Flu factory farm
Critter News
DECEMBER 15, 2010
50 surviving horses were rescued. For the full story, go here to KLTV.com. The Humane Society of the United States, SPCA of East Texas and Humane Society of North Texas worked with the Smith County District Attorney's Office to rescue 50 horses from a Lindale property. The District Attorney's office served a seizure warrant to the owner of the horses Tuesday, opening the door for the rescue team to begin removal on Wednesday.
Critter News
MARCH 12, 2009
Called Death on a Factory Farm, the documentary shows animal cruelty on a hog farm in Ohio. You can read about it here
Animal Ethics
JULY 31, 2008
I agree with Nicholas Kristof that factory farms will eventually be banned by law. I also agree that it will be a good thing. Addendum: Here are comments on Kristof's column
Animal Ethics
JULY 31, 2007
Here is a New York Times editorial opinion about factory farming. I have added the Factory Farm Map to the blogroll
Creature Talk
APRIL 17, 2009
“But what would we do with all the animals that are currently on farms? You want all the farm animals to just die ?&#. Yes, that is why I’m vegan - because I’d like all the farm animals to DIE! If they did, I guess I’d have to give some pretty serious thought to what would happen to the billions upon billions of animals that are currently suffering on farms everywhere. Many farmed animals would be able to do the same if given the opportunity.
10,000 Birds
NOVEMBER 24, 2013
Photo of a Golden Eagle at a Wyoming wind farm by Dina Cappiello/Associated Press. wind-energy company has admitted that its farms have killed birds, and has settled with prosecutors. law against causing the deaths of protected birds without a permit (and no wind-energy farms seem to have such permits). expressed particular regret that its wind farms killed two Golden Eagles. News Golden Eagles wind farms Wind turbines
Critter News
JANUARY 26, 2010
Please note that the illegal bile farm was Taiwanese-owned. It's great that they were saved, but t hey arrived at the rescue center in wretched condition. Moon bears are rare, which makes this all the sadder. Again, the China connection. I can't read such stuff without being sickened by my species. Thank Animals Asia for the rescue. They are an amazing organization that we support financially.).
Animal Ethics
FEBRUARY 1, 2012
The problem of the unjust use of farm animals is large, growing, historical, institutionalized, governmentally encouraged, and fundamentally unregulated at either the state or federal level. Farm animals are treated essentially as raw materials. Their interests are primarily protected, if at all, through archaic state anti-cruelty statutes that were not passed in contemplation of the factory-farm or genetic engineering.
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