Unsanitary and inhumane food animal conditions

Under modern systems of livestock production, traditional husbandry has been superseded by advances in technology and associated values of productivity and efficiency. Animals are no longer raised under free-range or extensive conditions. They are being confined and raised as if they were mindless and emotionless cogs in the complex machinery of factory farming. Often this is done at the expense and compromise of their needs and rights to humane consideration and treatment.

Animals may be given insufficient space, light, ventilation and comfort, causing stress, malformation, loss of productivity and infertility. Under such conditions stress and malformation occur, as well as loss of productivity. Inadequate housing may also occur through negligence or through ignorance of the optimum conditions required and of animal psychology and behaviour. With breeding animals it may lead to infertility, rather than the desirable peak condition.

Factory farming exists mainly in the developed Western countries. The highest incidence of factory farming is to be found in the USA; in Europe the highest incidence is found in the UK. Most cattle and sheep are still raised for part of their lives under extensive conditions ranging from feedlot corrals to half-open barns which afford varying degrees of freedom and protection from the elements. However, the free-range and semi-intensive operations require the most labour. Thus, there is a growing trend to raise cattle and sheep in total confinement buildings, especially in northern climates. Almost all broiler chickens and laying hens and some sixty to seventy percent of all hogs are now housed intensively in total confinement. The relatively high cost of installing factory farming units is a restricting factor on their incidence in developing countries. Intensive farming units rarely give animals sufficient space, light or comfort, and in certain cases, such as with 'sweat houses' for pig fattening, ventilation is also restricted. In both developed and developing countries, poultry markets feature live chickens and sometimes pigeons and other birds. Most poultry is kept in confined, unclean quarters and suffer from hunger and thirst. Markets may also house live rabbits, turtles, lambs, or kids, and inhumane slaughter as well as maltreatment may occur.