In many factory farms today, animals are crammed into overcrowded sheds and constrictive cages. This creates great discomfort for the animals and can even negatively effect their productive ability. A solution: Discontinue overly-restrictive environments for livestock.
These dismal enclosures are adopted for maximum profit at minimal cost. Sadly, it is the animals who pay the price. In these restrictive environments, animals do not even have enough room to move or lie down. Sometimes, the lack of movement results in the need for sow and chicken broiler farmers to resort to a very calorie-restrictive diet to prevent the animals from getting too fat. When livestock is forced to become fat, the animals often become crippled under their own weight, even breaking bones.
The sanitary conditions of these facilities are horrifying and promote the spread of disease. Factory farms are full of animals with congestive heart failure, osteoporosis, cancer, bacterial infections, and respiratory diseases. With restricted movement, these animals display behavior indicating boredom, depression, or anxiety. Sometimes, factory farmers will pump the livestock full of drugs just to keep them alive. Without these drugs, they would surely die very quickly under these deplorable conditions.
In an ideal world, all farming would consist of free-range conditions and cage-free environments, with all animals leading full and happy lives. The best we can ask for at the moment are improvements on the laws regarding living conditions for livestock.
Dear U.S. Department of Agriculture,
The over-crowed and overly-restrictive livestock environments of many modern factory farms must be stopped. Although these environments are an efficient way to gain maximum profit at minimal company cost, they are harmful to the animals and can even affect the products that come from them.
In many factory farms, animals are crammed into restrictive cages and sheds, sometimes with not enough room to turn around, lie down, or move around. The conditions are unsanitary and often disease-ridden. Abnormal behavior is observed in these animals that signify boredom, depression, or anxiety. Due to the lack of exercise brought on by the overly-restrictive environment, some animals become too fat, which can be a problem for some sow and chicken broiler farmers, negatively affecting the final product. Sometimes, animals become so overweight that they become crippled, unable to reach for food or water.
I ask that you please revise current laws regarding livestock environments to reflect a more humane approach to farming. Please ban overly-restrictive environments to improve product quality and the welfare of animals.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
