A thought-provoking question for everyone who loves animals

[Kirsten]

Industrial livestock farming is a horrible thing, without a doubt one of the most horrible ideas mankind came up with, so many people prefer to buy the meat of organically raised animals and eat it with a clear conscience because "these animals had a good life, ate healthy food and could breathe the free air"...

Yes, it's true that most of them had a much better life, compared to their poor relatives spending their lives in factory farming, but when it comes to the end, to the killing... what is fairer? Taking an animal's life that had a horrible existence full of suffering and deprivation? For these animals, death might be a relief, although you can see in countless videos that even these animals fear death, and that they cling desperately to their lives, no matter how miserable it was...
And then the animals on organic farms: Most of them have a life that's worth being lived, and yet this life will be taken from them way too soon, often by the hand of those who cared for them; whom they trusted. Now I'm asking you: What it crueler? Who got more to lose?

What do you think? I mean no offense, but I believe that this is something that deserves some thoughts...

[phesina]

Thank you, Kirsten, for posting this question. I've wondered the same thing myself. I don't have the answer.

I don't eat meat myself. But a huge lot of people do, and so there is the question, where does the meat come from and how does it get to you.

[Asiel]

I don't really have an answer to this but I would say it's kinder to destroy an animal who is not having a good life. At least this animal will finally be at peace.
Having said this, I am fast becoming turned off meat because of the horrors I've watched about how these animals are raised before slaughter. I have 2 kids who refuse to touch meat for the same reason. I didn't mind when it was farm animals butchered to feed a family or farm animals raised as they should be raised but not the way it's done today.

[kitten645]

Please see the documentary Food Inc. It makes you see what we consume on a different level. The cruelty factor is huge but if you are going to consume meat, you should consume organically, ethically raised meats. They aren't feed the hormones and chemicals factory farmed animals are. Supporting factory farming only promotes the continued abuse. Also read Food Matters by Mark Bittman. Enlightening.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I like to think about it in terms of "harm reduction." I have been a vegetarian for 15 years. I know that what I am doing personally may not actually mean less production of meat, but I am personally trying to reduce harm. I guess the examples you gave above would be about reducing harm. Even if the animal ultimately dies, I think it's less cruel to allow the animal to live a somewhat natural life before that happens.

[pomtzu]

I have to admit that I am a meat eater, and I enjoy my steaks and pork chops and chicken, and I do not plan to give them up. I do not go by the meat counters in the stores, and think back to the origins of those packages of meat. However, I have seen videos of how these creatures are raised and slaughtered, and it is indeed horrific. I am 100% in support of more humane conditions in regard to how they are raised and slaughtered. There is no need for the cruelty that most of these animals are forced endure.

[Cat Daddy]

Industrial livestock farming is a horrible thing, without a doubt one of the most horrible ideas mankind came up with, so many people prefer to buy the meat of organically raised animals and eat it with a clear conscience because "these animals had a good life, ate healthy food and could breathe the free air"...

Yes, it's true that most of them had a much better life, compared to their poor relatives spending their lives in factory farming, but when it comes to the end, to the killing... what is fairer? Taking an animal's life that had a horrible existence full of suffering and deprivation? For these animals, death might be a relief, although you can see in countless videos that even these animals fear death, and that they cling desperately to their lives, no matter how miserable it was...
And then the animals on organic farms: Most of them have a life that's worth being lived, and yet this life will be taken from them way too soon, often by the hand of those who cared for them; whom they trusted. Now I'm asking you: What it crueler? Who got more to lose?

What do you think? I mean no offense, but I believe that this is something that deserves some thoughts...

Just my 2 cents.

I think the question can be summed up this way.
Is it better for animals to be raised humanely and live there lives without suffering to be harvested in the least painless way by those who cared for them, or to be raised in horrible conditions and spend their entire lives suffering then be harvested by those who have no concern over whether it is painful for the animal or not. Note that I purposely used the word harvest to emphasize these animals are being raise for food.
When put this way, I would gladly exchange a few moments of pain at the end for a, albeit short, happy life.

My thoughts on meat. Humans are omnivores, which of course means we need meat as well as vegetables to live healthy lives. Yes, we eat too much meat, but it is a neccessary evil for proper nutrition. I am speaking of fish and poultry as well as beef and pork etc.

Earliest man also relied on animals for their pelts for clothing.

JMO. Thanks for reading.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

I have sort of an odd slant on the eating meat thing. I don't eat much red meat but do eat chicken and turkey. I hate that anything has to die for food but I don't kill them for food. They are going to be killed whether I eat them or not. If they don't get eaten, they will have died in vain and given their life for nothing. I try to remember to thank them for their sacrifice then enjoy them.