CONGRATULATIONS! THIS IS THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY YOU ASKED FOR.

U.S. Research Lab Lets Livestock Suffer in Quest for Profit


This makes me angry. And you know what? I saw this coming.


Over the past few years, I have been involved in discussions about the ag industry and doing my part to explain to people that, while they may not like every method used in food production, there is a reason we do things this way. There is a "why" behind every production method out there. We don't just slap chemicals on crops for the fun of it. We don't just use gestation stalls because we think they look cool. We don't raise animals indoors because we feel like it.


THERE ARE VERY GOOD REASONS WHY WE DO THESE THINGS.


But do any of those radical activists listen? No. Because they want everything to be sunshine and rainbows and butterflies and until you agree with them, they wont listen to a word you have to say.


So, the industry has changed because of this huge consumer demand for more "free range, natural, GMO-free, *insert your favorite label here*" products. We are a consumer driven industry, so of course we made adjustments to accommodate the wishes of our customers.


Many of these changes have taken place within the livestock production sector. Less hogs are in gestation/farrowing crates, more animals are being raised outdoors for that "free range" label, and less antibiotics are being used to promote the health of the animals.


And now, the farmers are under attack again for being negligent.


"Hundreds of those newborn (piglets), too frail or crowded to move, are being crushed each year when their mothers roll over... In an effort to develop “easy care” sheep that can survive without costly shelters or shepherds, ewes are giving birth, unaided, in open fields where newborns are killed by predators, harsh weather and starvation... A single, treatable malady — mastitis, a painful infection of the udder — has killed more than 625."


ARE YOU F*CKING KIDDING ME?! Excuse my language, but sometimes, you just have to call people on their sh*t.


ALL of this is a direct result of consumer demand for different production methods! This is NOT the fault of the farmer!


You wanted pasture-raised meat? Okay, fine. But now you're mad that predators & severe weather are a threat to the poor baby animals?
OF COURSE THOSE ARE THREATS. THAT'S WHY WE MOVED THE ANIMALS INDOORS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
You don't want pigs placed in gestation stalls or farrowing crates? Okay, sure. But now it's abhorrent to hear about the number of piglets crushed by their mothers every year?
ONCE AGAIN, YOU ASKED FOR THIS. THERE IS A REASON WE PUT THOSE SOWS IN THE FARROWING CRATES.
You demand an antibiotic-free meat product? Sure thing! But now the farmers are terrible people for not handling common & easily treatable infections in their animals?
(You see where I'm going with this?)


I have said for years that, for whatever reason, people have completely lost touch with the fact that there is a very good reason behind everything that we do as a production ag industry. We have learned from past failures, we have adjusted our practices to create safer living conditions for our animals, we have asked our parents & grandparents these questions about why we do things a certain way, and there is always a reasonable answer. How do we fix this lost connection between consumer & understanding that there is a why behind what we do?


We give the consumer what they want.


And what was my hypothesis about what would happen? They would be so appalled at what the conditions in our industry look like and start demanding that we put those animals back inside where it's safe, and find a way to stop those mama sows from crushing her babies, and for goodness sake we need to be responsible for our animals and treat them with medicine when they are sick!


Bingo. I hate to say I told you so, but I TOLD YOU SO.


So, can we farmers get back to doing what we do best and take proper care of our animals now? Do you believe that our methods involve generations worth of research and work with animals that gives us the knowledge to know the best way to care for them? Do you finally understand why we use some of these practices that you are so unknowledgeable about and yet so against?


I'm angry. I love my industry and I have worked to defend it for years. All we have done is concede to the demands of our consumer, and now we are catching the heat for it once again. We are NOT bad people. We CARE about our animals, probably more than you do.


With that being said... Congratulations. You have gotten exactly what you asked for. I hope you're happy.