Animal Manufacturing & Animal Rights
Humans first began to domesticate animals for consumption about 10,000 years ago in the Neolithic era. They did this to feed a larger population and have a more reliable source of food. Today the population has grown tremendously and the manufacturing of animals for not only food but luxury has increased dramatically. This has caused many negative effects to the environment, human health, and to animals. Animal manufacturing has caused animals to only be seen as profit, and because of this they have no rights.
Farming was a very popular job in the early 1800’s in America. There were over 6 million farmers in America in 1833. When new technologies were invented such as the railroads food production increased because it could be transported faster to large cities all across America. Intensive animal production began in the 1930’s after the first pig slaughter houses were created. These slaughter houses could buy inexpensive grain for the pigs to eat, and because the cost of raising the pigs was so small compared to the profit, these slaughter houses became very successful. America is where animal manufacturing first began.
By the 1960’s milk production doubled, meat production tripled, and egg production quadrupled. This is also when genetic selection and formulated feed to increase animal size began. These industries began to be more and more efficient at raising and slaughtering animals faster, especially in chickens. In the 1950’s it took an average of 84 days to produce a five pound chicken and today it only takes 45 days. In the last 20 years animal manufacturing has changed significantly. Farms use to be family owned but are now run by large companies. Also much of the labor has been replaced with technology. Many animal farmers are run by controlled by companies. The companies control what the animals eat, where they live, and the farmers do not even legally own the animals. Animal manufacturing companies profits have increased dramatically since the 1950’s. Animal production has changed a lot over seventy years, but ethical standards have not been raised.
The first animal rights movement began in the late 1700’s. This movement wanted to abolish animal cruelty in America and in England. An English man named Richard Martin went in front of the English parliament spoke about animal rights, and later on a bill was passed to improve the treatment of cattle. This bill caused America to also start making changes to our animal rights laws. In 1828 similar laws were passed in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Wisconsin to improve the treatment of animals. The first animal rights association in America was created in 1868 and was called The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Since then there have been many new organizations that try and improve animal rights. In America the largest and most known organization is PETA which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Throughout history animals have undergone suffering for the wants instead of needs of humans. Animals have dealt with cruelty for hundreds of years and today they are still treated inhumanely in fur factories, meat production, and scientific testing.
The Fur industry is a billion dollar industry which farms and traps animals in order to sell their fur. Fur Factories began in 19th century and still exists all over the world. Each year in America about 31 million animals are killed for the purpose of fur. Animals are usually caught by leg hold traps. Even though these traps are illegal in Europe they are still legal in most of America. Leg hold traps have been banned in eight states because it is non selective and cruel. The most commonly trapped animals are foxes, minks, raccoons and coyotes, but dogs and cats can also be trapped accidentally. These traps are extremely painful for the animals, and they are left to suffer until taken to a fur farm where they are kept in confined cages. Since these are wild animals, being in a confined space such as a cage causes them to feel distressed. The animals will usually pace back and forth; self mutilate themselves, and even cannibalize other animals. Most animals are raised in these farms and about %15 percent are caught in the wild. Some of the main animals that are raised in fur farms are chinchillas, silver fox, blue fox, and raccoon. And some of the main animals caught by traps are beavers, coyotes, gray wolves, red foxes, and many others. In America there are over 1,000 different fur farms. There are also 330 mink farms which produce around 2.6 millions pelts each year. These farms make $86 million dollars in profit annually and America creates %13 of the world’s mink fur. Fur farms also employ 255,000 thousand workers. Even though the fur industry is very unethical it has become a part of our economy.
America should not only be held responsible for exporting animal furs but for also importing. In Australia the wool industry is a growing issue. These industries have very low standards when it comes to treating sheep ethically. Because of this the sheep are very unhealthy and are always in pain. While sheep are being raised in Australia sheep farmers have to cut out large piece of flesh from the sheep because this is the easiest and cheapest way for their wool to not become infested with flies. This practice is called mulesing and it is extremely painful for the sheep. Each year around 64 million sheep are shipped from Australia to the Middle East to be slaughtered. The sheep are packed together on open decked boats and are exposed to all weather extremes. During the trip many sheep become sick, injured, or die. When the sheep are sick or injured they are thrown off the boats and into the ocean where they drowned or are eaten by sharks. Sheep are also thrown into shipboard grinders while they are still alive. The animals that do survive the month long trip are sent strait to the slaughter house, and since it is in the Middle East, animal cruelty laws are nonexistent. The sheep have no pain killers and killed by having their throats slit. America should hold itself to higher standards and not by wool that has been produces in an immoral way. By buying wool from Australia we are giving money and supporting Australia wool industry. We should not import there wool and instead put pressure on Australian government by boycotting the Australian wool industry.
Leather is the most common manufactured item that people buy and produced. The main import of leather is India. America is their largest consumer and each year we buy leather from India. Even though in India cows are well respected the people who work in the leather trade do not care. Many poor families who live in rural areas are manipulated and sell their cows after they are assured that the cows will live out their lives on a farm and be well taken care of. The cows are then taken to auctions where they are separated from their children. In India the slaughter of cows is illegal in most of the country. The cows then are taken to one of the few places in India where cows can be slaughtered legally. The cows have to walk all the way there and have metal shoes nailed to their feet and a rope is threaded through their noses to keep all of the cows together. This is very painful and if the cows pull to hard it can cause their noses to rip. The cows are forced to walk for days and become very exhausted because they do not receive food or water. If the animals collapse from exhaustion workers rub chili peppers in their eyes or repeatedly break bones in their tails to try and get them to keep walking. Even though there are standards when it comes to cattle slaughter in India they are almost never enforced. Workers often ignore many of these laws. For example there is a law which states that only six cows should be allowed in a truck at one time, but workers usually put two or three times that many cows in at once. This crowding causes cows to sometimes accidentally gauge each other’s eyes with their horns. Small or weak animals in these trucks are sometimes smothered and trampled by other cows. Workers pull cows by their nose ropes to get them up because by the time they are either to sick and weak to stand, or are dead. The cows are killed by having their throats slit but this is usually a very long process and the cows are fully awake the whole time. The cow skins are then treated with chemicals such as chromium to stop decomposition. This water is the same water many poor Indians who live near the leather factories drink, cook, and bath from. There have been many health problems linked to this water such as cancer and leukemia. There is a lot of corruption in India because of America’s demand for cheap leather. If America did not buy leather from India this industry would run out of business and the abuse against cows would end.
In America there are many changes that need to be made in animal manufacturing. We should not produce or buy animal products from companies which abuse animals. Animals should be treated fairly and ethically. America uses the some of the same standards as third world countries to produce meat and fur, and we are taken advantages of many people, as well as leaving Americans ignorant about the health and moral issues of animal manufacturing. Even though we have the power to change our system, we have not because of all of the profit we make each year from selling our products to other countries. Overall America should change our laws, raise our stands, stop supporting countries which treat animals inhumanly, and stop abusing animals in our own country.
Bibliography
"Peta." Non-Profit Organization. 17 May 2008.
"Industrial Farm." The Pew. 17 May 2008.
"Fur Farming & Fur Trapping." 17 May 2008.
Humans first began to domesticate animals for consumption about 10,000 years ago in the Neolithic era. They did this to feed a larger population and have a more reliable source of food. Today the population has grown tremendously and the manufacturing of animals for not only food but luxury has increased dramatically. This has caused many negative effects to the environment, human health, and to animals. Animal manufacturing has caused animals to only be seen as profit, and because of this they have no rights.
Farming was a very popular job in the early 1800’s in America. There were over 6 million farmers in America in 1833. When new technologies were invented such as the railroads food production increased because it could be transported faster to large cities all across America. Intensive animal production began in the 1930’s after the first pig slaughter houses were created. These slaughter houses could buy inexpensive grain for the pigs to eat, and because the cost of raising the pigs was so small compared to the profit, these slaughter houses became very successful. America is where animal manufacturing first began.
By the 1960’s milk production doubled, meat production tripled, and egg production quadrupled. This is also when genetic selection and formulated feed to increase animal size began. These industries began to be more and more efficient at raising and slaughtering animals faster, especially in chickens. In the 1950’s it took an average of 84 days to produce a five pound chicken and today it only takes 45 days. In the last 20 years animal manufacturing has changed significantly. Farms use to be family owned but are now run by large companies. Also much of the labor has been replaced with technology. Many animal farmers are run by controlled by companies. The companies control what the animals eat, where they live, and the farmers do not even legally own the animals. Animal manufacturing companies profits have increased dramatically since the 1950’s. Animal production has changed a lot over seventy years, but ethical standards have not been raised.
The first animal rights movement began in the late 1700’s. This movement wanted to abolish animal cruelty in America and in England. An English man named Richard Martin went in front of the English parliament spoke about animal rights, and later on a bill was passed to improve the treatment of cattle. This bill caused America to also start making changes to our animal rights laws. In 1828 similar laws were passed in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Wisconsin to improve the treatment of animals. The first animal rights association in America was created in 1868 and was called The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Since then there have been many new organizations that try and improve animal rights. In America the largest and most known organization is PETA which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Throughout history animals have undergone suffering for the wants instead of needs of humans. Animals have dealt with cruelty for hundreds of years and today they are still treated inhumanely in fur factories, meat production, and scientific testing.
The Fur industry is a billion dollar industry which farms and traps animals in order to sell their fur. Fur Factories began in 19th century and still exists all over the world. Each year in America about 31 million animals are killed for the purpose of fur. Animals are usually caught by leg hold traps. Even though these traps are illegal in Europe they are still legal in most of America. Leg hold traps have been banned in eight states because it is non selective and cruel. The most commonly trapped animals are foxes, minks, raccoons and coyotes, but dogs and cats can also be trapped accidentally. These traps are extremely painful for the animals, and they are left to suffer until taken to a fur farm where they are kept in confined cages. Since these are wild animals, being in a confined space such as a cage causes them to feel distressed. The animals will usually pace back and forth; self mutilate themselves, and even cannibalize other animals. Most animals are raised in these farms and about %15 percent are caught in the wild. Some of the main animals that are raised in fur farms are chinchillas, silver fox, blue fox, and raccoon. And some of the main animals caught by traps are beavers, coyotes, gray wolves, red foxes, and many others. In America there are over 1,000 different fur farms. There are also 330 mink farms which produce around 2.6 millions pelts each year. These farms make $86 million dollars in profit annually and America creates %13 of the world’s mink fur. Fur farms also employ 255,000 thousand workers. Even though the fur industry is very unethical it has become a part of our economy.
America should not only be held responsible for exporting animal furs but for also importing. In Australia the wool industry is a growing issue. These industries have very low standards when it comes to treating sheep ethically. Because of this the sheep are very unhealthy and are always in pain. While sheep are being raised in Australia sheep farmers have to cut out large piece of flesh from the sheep because this is the easiest and cheapest way for their wool to not become infested with flies. This practice is called mulesing and it is extremely painful for the sheep. Each year around 64 million sheep are shipped from Australia to the Middle East to be slaughtered. The sheep are packed together on open decked boats and are exposed to all weather extremes. During the trip many sheep become sick, injured, or die. When the sheep are sick or injured they are thrown off the boats and into the ocean where they drowned or are eaten by sharks. Sheep are also thrown into shipboard grinders while they are still alive. The animals that do survive the month long trip are sent strait to the slaughter house, and since it is in the Middle East, animal cruelty laws are nonexistent. The sheep have no pain killers and killed by having their throats slit. America should hold itself to higher standards and not by wool that has been produces in an immoral way. By buying wool from Australia we are giving money and supporting Australia wool industry. We should not import there wool and instead put pressure on Australian government by boycotting the Australian wool industry.
Leather is the most common manufactured item that people buy and produced. The main import of leather is India. America is their largest consumer and each year we buy leather from India. Even though in India cows are well respected the people who work in the leather trade do not care. Many poor families who live in rural areas are manipulated and sell their cows after they are assured that the cows will live out their lives on a farm and be well taken care of. The cows are then taken to auctions where they are separated from their children. In India the slaughter of cows is illegal in most of the country. The cows then are taken to one of the few places in India where cows can be slaughtered legally. The cows have to walk all the way there and have metal shoes nailed to their feet and a rope is threaded through their noses to keep all of the cows together. This is very painful and if the cows pull to hard it can cause their noses to rip. The cows are forced to walk for days and become very exhausted because they do not receive food or water. If the animals collapse from exhaustion workers rub chili peppers in their eyes or repeatedly break bones in their tails to try and get them to keep walking. Even though there are standards when it comes to cattle slaughter in India they are almost never enforced. Workers often ignore many of these laws. For example there is a law which states that only six cows should be allowed in a truck at one time, but workers usually put two or three times that many cows in at once. This crowding causes cows to sometimes accidentally gauge each other’s eyes with their horns. Small or weak animals in these trucks are sometimes smothered and trampled by other cows. Workers pull cows by their nose ropes to get them up because by the time they are either to sick and weak to stand, or are dead. The cows are killed by having their throats slit but this is usually a very long process and the cows are fully awake the whole time. The cow skins are then treated with chemicals such as chromium to stop decomposition. This water is the same water many poor Indians who live near the leather factories drink, cook, and bath from. There have been many health problems linked to this water such as cancer and leukemia. There is a lot of corruption in India because of America’s demand for cheap leather. If America did not buy leather from India this industry would run out of business and the abuse against cows would end.
In America there are many changes that need to be made in animal manufacturing. We should not produce or buy animal products from companies which abuse animals. Animals should be treated fairly and ethically. America uses the some of the same standards as third world countries to produce meat and fur, and we are taken advantages of many people, as well as leaving Americans ignorant about the health and moral issues of animal manufacturing. Even though we have the power to change our system, we have not because of all of the profit we make each year from selling our products to other countries. Overall America should change our laws, raise our stands, stop supporting countries which treat animals inhumanly, and stop abusing animals in our own country.
Bibliography
"Peta." Non-Profit Organization. 17 May 2008
"Industrial Farm." The Pew. 17 May 2008
"Fur Farming & Fur Trapping." 17 May 2008
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