Factory farming all about profit
Wendy Warren dismisses the views of major well-respected animal welfare organisations and provides no authoritative support for her personal opinions ("Farming methods defended", Mailbox, December 29).
Her views on factory farming and the American-style "mega" rearing of animals are neither popular nor the answer to feeding a hungry world.
Peter Kindersley, a farmer, says: "The idea that intensive farming can feed the world is absolute rubbish. The UN, countless scientists and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) all agree that industrialised farming is not the answer."
On the US-style "mega" systems he adds: "Many Americans are now quite rightly saying – 'No more!'"
The bottom line for factory farming is profit at the expense of animal welfare and sustainable farming practices which benefit the environment.
Wendy puts most of the blame for antibiotic-resistant bugs on the over-use of antibiotics by doctors. At a recent conference scientists revealed shocking new levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in intensively-reared animals which have the potential to spread to humans.
Richard Young, of the Soil Association, said: "We have seen farmers dramatically increase their use of antibiotics classified by WHO (World Health Organisation) as 'critically important in human medicine' and we have also seen the development of several antibiotic-resistant bugs in farm animals which are passing to humans on food and in other ways."
Ms Warren agreed that CCTV in abattoirs should be encouraged to ensure the humane treatment of animals.
Had it not been for Animal Aid's investigation the despicable cruelty in abattoirs would not have been revealed.
Animal Aid campaigns against all animal abuse and promotes a cruelty-free lifestyle.
Many higher animal welfare standards have been achieved by knowledgeable campaigners who Wendy describes as "long on theory and short on actual experience" and which "use exaggerated and emotive language".
Ms Warren said she had practised animal welfare all her life and that I "just preached about it" – what a hackneyed comment.
Wendy, you have no idea what I do. However, the way I live my life is best expressed by the Rev Professor Andrew Linzey who is recognised as the world's leading theologian of animal rights.
He says: "I celebrate the common origin of all life in God. I undertake to cherish and love all creatures whose life belongs to God and exists for God's glory" and "I rejoice in animals as fellow-creatures".
Mrs Elizabeth Allison, Aylestone.
10 Comments
by Peter, Wigston
Friday, January 07 2011, 8:40PM
“....... while the Con clone government remains unremarkably complacent about the health risks.”
by Peter, Wigston
Friday, January 07 2011, 1:08PM
“And in Germany the pigs and hens are given highly toxic, cancer producing dioxin contaminated feed.”
by GRAHAM STOCKS - VICE-CHAIRMAN, LEICESTERSHIRE CPRE, LE12 8XT
Thursday, January 06 2011, 9:53AM
“With Earth heading for a human population of seven billion, pastoral agriculture is not economic use of limited land resources. However unpalatable it may be, we have to educate ourselves toward a dietary shift based on arable food resources. That way, the available agricultural land can adequately feed everyone. Many of the current woes arise from the demand for animal products.”
by Francis Giles, Reading, Berkshire
Tuesday, January 04 2011, 6:56PM
“Well done, Elizabeth Allison. I'm on your side!
Further, re ritual slaughter by Muslims and Jews? Well, ritual slaughte is abhorrent, unnecessary. Many so-called Christians decry the Muslims/Jews fo their ritual slaughter, yet those very so-called Christian critics themselves partake of ritual slaughter when they stuff murdered turkeys down their meat-eating gobs every Christmas. They eat the ritually-murdered turkeys, but let others do the dirty work of murdering the turkeys. A farmer once showed me hundeds of turkey chicks about 3 months before a Xmas. He remarked how he was getting them fattened up, to get the best possible price by weight per turkey, to boost his finances by having them killed (well, murdered) for Xmas ritual feasting. Ghastly, all the ritual slaughter!”
by karin, Oadby
Tuesday, January 04 2011, 6:55PM
“I think bringing God into the equation merely obfuscates matters. You can quote the bible all you like and you will still find conflicting advice there. The fact is mega-dairies as with battery cages are wrong. To suggest the cattle like to be cosying up in the warm and dry is anthropomorphism. Maybe they'd like to start the day with wheatie pops and some of their own milk too? I have no religion yet have decided that if I can live a healthy life without needing to cause the premature death of any living creature then that suits me. However, I would hope that carnivores give more than a passing thought to the life and indeed death of what they are eating...that is the very least we can do.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Tuesday, January 04 2011, 4:56PM
“@PB,
More info on Professor Linzey who is a Christian Vegetarian (?) can be found here:
http://www.all-creatures.org/cva/th-linzey-andrew.htm”
by PB, Leicester
Tuesday, January 04 2011, 3:01PM
“"That's 5 out of 5 for me" Me to!
" Rev Professor Andrew Linzey who is recognised as the world's leading theologian of animal rights". By whom exactly?
A couple of theological points.
1) According to the Bible we were given the right to eat animals by God after the flood
2) The Israelites introduced animal sacrifice for the atonement of sin.
3) Jesus was not a vegetarian, nor were his disciples.”
by Lee, East Leicester
Tuesday, January 04 2011, 2:16PM
“The massive amounts of slurry caused by Mega Dairies cannot be absorbed into the environment and seeps into water courses, causing untold damage.They are not the way forward.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Tuesday, January 04 2011, 12:00PM
“Perhaps Ms Allison could enlighten us as to what an 'Almost Vegan' is?”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Tuesday, January 04 2011, 11:52AM
“That's 5 out of 5 for me. ;)”