People for Animal Rights

Factory Farming

the tracks we leave
behind . . .

What is Factory Farming?

Factory farming is the practice of raising animals for food with the use of intensive confinement structures and automatized equipment for feeding and watering. In this system, animals are treated as mere commodities, and their basic needs of space, exercise, social structure, and grooming are denied.

One goal of People for Animal Rights is to educate people about the impact of factory farming on the animals, the planet, and human health. Without the support of consumers who are given little information about the true costs of factory farming, the industry would not continue. We encourage consumers to say no to factory farms and to support local, organic farmers who care about the animals, the planet, and our health.

How many are killed?
In 2001, over 9.8 billion animals were killed for food
in the United States according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
This includes:
41.6 million cows
118 million pigs
8.9 billion "broiler" chickens
450 million "laying" hens
4.2 million sheep
309 million turkeys
27.7 million ducks

http://veganoutreach.com/whyvegan/animals.html - Why Vegan?
Alleviating the suffering of others is the essence of veganism and can be embraced by each of us. Regardless of any other beliefs we hold and however else we choose to lead our lives, we can make a conscious decision to act from kindness and compassion rather than habit and tradition.
"Why Vegan" Brochure in Portable Document Format (.pdf)
(Cable or DSL recommended)

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html

A Closer Look at Farm Animals

"It is easy for us to criticize the prejudices of our grandfathers, from which our fathers freed themselves. It is more difficult to distance ourselves from our own views, so that we can dispassionately search for prejudices among the beliefs and valuess we hold." Peter Singer Practical Ethics, 1993

Related Links

What Can I Do?

Buy locally-produced, organic foods! Reduce pollution caused by transporting food, decrease the pesticides polluting our water, and help stop the suffering of animals on "factory farms."
Add more plant-based foods to your diet! It’s better for the animals, the planet, AND your health.
Consume LESS! Reducing the amount of "stuff" you consume saves precious resources needed to sustain the diversity of life upon which we depend.