99-year-old man beaten over parking spot
Monday, Nov. 16 2009 @ 4:17PM
This undercover video was shot by Mercy for Animals at Country View Family Farms in Fannettsburg, Pennsylvania. It's not for the squeamish. It shows pigs being chucked like footballs, smashed against walls, hit with sharp metal spikes, and killed in portable gassing carts. It's as if the owners, who supply Hatfield Quality Meats, decided to recreate Auschwitz at a pig farm in Pennsylvania. But it's entirely legal.







This is the most vile, disgusting thing I have ever seen in my entire life. I eat meat. I buy Hatfield "quality" meats. NEVER AGAIN!!! I also live in PA and to think this is happening right down the street makes me want to vomit.
PLEASE - DON'T BUY HATFIELD!!!!
Posted 11/16/2009 at 05:24:46 PMI got about 7 seconds in and couldn't watch it. How awful. I too am a meat eater, but seeing things like this is enough to make you want to stop. omg...
Posted 11/16/2009 at 05:49:58 PMWhen did True Crime report become a vegetarian site... I don't know what they do to those animals, but its delicious
Posted 11/16/2009 at 06:18:19 PMNo painkillers? ha, I would pay for that either if I were the owner. We're gonna eat these things anyways. Folks, quit crying for your food. Remember, we are predators. Well, at least some of us still are.
Posted 11/16/2009 at 06:55:25 PMFolks... This is not a "renegade" supplier to Hatfield Quality Meats, this IS Hatfield Quality Meats. Country View Family Farms is an LLC fully owned by the "good" people of Hatfield Quality Meats.
To have a chuckle, follow this trail.... CVFF is owned by Hatfield... Hatfield is owned by the Clemens Family, who in turns owns the Clemens Food Group... who in turn is owned by the Clemens Family Corporation... (nice shell game isn't it?).
This is a copy of their sustainability report!!!!
http://www.clemensfamilycorp.com/Images/PDF/SustainabilityReport.pdf
This is the link to their web page and their "core values".
http://www.clemensfamilycorp.com/Pages/core-values.aspx
"We will continue to build on the values that our company was founded upon by striving to operate in a way that will honor the Lord Jesus Christ as demonstrated through our Integrity, Ethics and Stewardship."
Way to honor the Lord Jesus Christ people!.... good work!
Now go ahead and take action. Stop buying from these folks and those that sell their tainted product... Giant Foods, Eat N' Park, even the unsuspecting students of Bucknell University eat their poison daily... these folks are everywhere including Costco!... boycott them NOW!
Mr. X
Posted 11/16/2009 at 06:55:28 PMWhy in the hell do they blur out the faces of these pieces of trash? Because they will get attacked in the streets by pet owners / animal lovers everywhere, me being one of them, that's why.
They must feel like a real man when someone asks them what they do for a living... "i rip the nuts off of baby pigs". These guys clearly have anger / superiority complex issues (kicking the pigs for no reason, etc), and no one will tell me they don't carry these issues home to their personal lives...
Tell Hatfield what you think!
Hatfield Quality Meats
Executive Profile:
Philip A. Clemens
Chairman, Chairman of Owners' Advisory Council and Chief Executive Officer, The Clemens Family Corporation.
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
2700 Clemens Road
Hatfield, Pennsylvania 19440
United States
Phone: 215-368-2500
Posted 11/16/2009 at 06:57:30 PMFax: 215-368-3018
Joe, I hope someone kicks your ass real soon. Predators kill the food they eat. They don't pay others to do it for them. I'm a meat-eater myself, but this video is enough to make me question that practice. As for assholes like Joe -- I'm sure he goes to church every Sunday too. The inability to show compassion for anything other than unborn fetuses is a hallmark of the American evangelical movement. Idiots.
Posted 11/16/2009 at 08:33:48 PMDave, you're an idiot. Ed - thanks for the Hatfield contact info. And here is the e-mail address for that so-called ''veterinarian'' who thinks that "these films ... really are an attack on the rural lifestyle of America." (Oh, really? So let's not get upset at the torture of animals, huh?). Write to him and express your disgust with this jerk: rbbaker@iastate.edu
Posted 11/16/2009 at 08:46:21 PMAs for the people in this video - I hope they are all arrested and charged with animal cruelty. And I second Rachel's comment: BOYCOTT HATFIELD MEAT!! (Actually, this goes on in most animal farms - consider becoming vegetarian - it's healthier for us humans as well as for the animals!)
Joe, humans are supposed to be farther along on the evolution timeline than the other predators on the planet. Or so we keep claiming.
As the apex predator of the planet, and believing ourselves to be in charge of the joint, and having fashioned a word based on our unique status, which is meant to transmit succinctly one of our defining hallmarks ("humane"), or so we keep insisting to anyone standing around, we have an *obligation* to treat humanely those creatures we sacrifice for our nourishment.
There is simply no need, whatsoever, to mistreat animals we plan to eat.
If you are incapable of extending your compassion to every of our fellow creatures, then that makes you a sociopath.
There has been a resurgence in the popularity of bacon lately, especially on gourmet food tv shows. And it is an ancient food.
How much more popular would pork be if we had proof that none of the doomed animals would be abused or tortured during their unnaturally short lives?
Because we all think the USDA has powers over the meat industry we also think the government must be responsible for this atrocity (never us! never we the voters! it must be the "gummint"!). At least, not if the politician wants to win.
No, the super-greedy unfettered capitalists are who cut the humane corners in order to fatten their profit corners.
Livestock are exempt from most animal cruelty laws. Because agriculture has always enjoyed special exemptions. Because they produce food. And it is considered tantamount to one step into a gulag for the government to exert any police powers over the American food supply.
So folks, for us all to simply not buy pork for say the first week in December, just think how quickly the meat producers would come to a screeching halt and beg to know what they did wrong and how could they fix it.
Remember, the pork industry is still trying to overcome the false fear that you can catch the swine flu from ham.
So, either we all in fact unite in solidarity to stop a horror in our midst by not buying pork of any kind all at once, or we send in the inspectors and shut down the plants like we do dirty restaurants (in some states we do anyway; but in Texas, you're on your own, rotsa' ruck).
(When the gummint does shut down a place, the business will immediately launch a PR campaign to make themselves look like victims and the government is a meanie.)
True vegetarians do not pass judgment on what you choose to eat. Most vegetarians don't even bring up what others eat, they choose to eat vegetarian. It's the omnivores who get their panties in a twist. Like Joe.
All vegetarians are doing is thinking about what they are eating. Then they make considered choices. Most of us don't even think for one second about how meat gets on our plate.
We don't want to bother our pretty little heads with those pesky, conscience-pricking details.
It's very Marie Antoinette and Whitey Bulger-ish.
Posted 11/16/2009 at 08:57:41 PMWell said, Alexa!
Posted 11/16/2009 at 09:35:20 PMRight on Gaggy.
(It is an irony wasted on "devout" Christians: they really think they're entitled to mistreat non-humans. To me, if God made all creatures, then wouldn't he be pissed for any of us to mistreat any of his creatures? I totally get the difference between killing convicted capital felons and killing unborn babies. I totally get it. What I don't get is abusing animals merely because they don't match humans.)
Posted 11/16/2009 at 10:12:40 PMDespicable. Not just the cruelty, but the fact that some morons here make comments supporting this type of abuse. Those comments are more (as if any were needed) proof that we are all members of a society that revels in abuse, violence, and death.
The Bible, for you Christian haters and also for you idiots who call yourselves Christians but are too stupid to read and learn for yourselves and instead listen and believe whatever the jackasses in your church say, actually calls for Dominion. That means that while people have authority over animals, people are also supposed to treat animals with respect. Further, animals giving their lives to feed humans deserve to be treated with reverence. No animal, like no child, deserves to be abused.
If in fact this type of cruelty is legal in PA, it is obvious there must be a change in the law.
Just as important is this::: those sick bastards who revel in abusing the swine in the video need to be exposed. Their names and addresses and phone numbers need to be published. They deserve to be shamed. Their neighbors should recognize them on sight. They should face pickets every time they step out of their homes. They should endure dirty looks every time they visit the grocery store. They should be treated by society like the sick SOB's they are.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 12:44:34 AMUsing the holocaust for inappropriate comparisons like this just helps to relativize it. I'm disgusted.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 03:33:21 AMI wasn't going to comment on this cause I'm torn. I love animals, but I'm also a meat eater. I always have been both and will always be both. I won't give up my meat, but as oddly and some of you might say I sound ignorant, there should be a better way to kill the animals, a more humane way. Like I said, might sound ignorant or even stpuid, but hey its my opinion.
What I have a question about is alexa's second comment.
"I totally get the difference between killin convicted capitol felons and killing unborn babies. I totally get it."
Please do not tell me you don't see the difference in killin a felon and an innocent unborn child? That you think abortion is right? I'm hoping I'm just tired and my migraine medicine isn't making me think clearly.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 05:36:09 AMOUTRAGED!!! I tried to call them this morning to get a statement, explanation..something to have them confront us who are outraged!!! Of Course...THE VOICEMAIL OF ERIC HAMAN IS NOT AVAILABLE TO TAKE THE CALL!!!!!!!!
Posted 11/17/2009 at 08:56:13 AMTHE OWNERS, THE SUPERVISORS, THE WORKERS = ARE PIGS IN THE MOST VICIOUS SENSE OF THE REFERENCE!!! The ANIMALS - ARE VICTIMS OF SICK INDIVIDUALS!! THE WORKERS AND OWNERS SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME AS THE VICTIM!!!!
You would be hard-pressed to find a company that is run with a higher degree of ethics and integrity, than Hatfield Meats. Their policies and procedures from the top down, are a model of excellence. First off, Hatfield doesn't own Country View Family Farms, the connection is that they are owned by the same parent company. Second, They guys that did this were fired, the manager at the farm was fired. This was an isolated incident that they deeply regret. This happened earlier in the year, the company became aware of it last Summer, which is when they immediately dealt with it, long before it became public. This was some fringe wacko group that posted it. Don't be so high and mighty people, the meat you eat doesn't grow on trees!
Posted 11/17/2009 at 09:08:26 AMNot all of the pigs that go to Hatfield come from CVFF. Other farmers produce pigs for Hatfield and take care of their pigs the best way they know how. We are constantly looking for better ways to move pigs, castrate( this is done so the meat does not have a foul taste.), vaccinate animals. Just because one farm had employees throwing pigs does not mean that there are not responsible and caring farmers out there.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 10:31:35 AMHayden,
Posted 11/17/2009 at 10:36:05 AMDoes it make you want to stop, or are you going to stop?
I will go out of my way to ensure I NEVER purchase a Hatfield product. I blame the entire purchasing chain on this, a lot of people obviously knew the practices going on there and did nothing until caught.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 11:28:41 AMHilda,you have no idea what you are talking about. All you know is what you're reading and unfortunately, they're not interested in the truth. This was an isolated incident, uncovered by CVF's own internal audit system. They curtailed it last summer and as soon as upper management discovered what went on, they fired everyone involved. They have been a pioneer in the industry for animal care, well being, and humane practices. Frankly, I could care less whether or not you buy Hatfield products, but please, don't be ignorant about the facts.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 12:12:56 PMMr. X. You are an ignorant fool. Get your facts straight. Hatfield does not own CVFF. Clemens Family Corp. owns both companies, as well as many others. They are completely separate entities.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 12:19:52 PMAnd BTW, if pork is poison, I've already had my fatal dose for the day. Get a life ass hole.
the only thing I have to say is that violence is violence. Killing is killing. if you don't think it's right, don't fund it. And chances are, unless you live on a farm, an overwhelming majority of your food comes from hells like this.
"Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds them. We live by the death of others. We are burial places." - Leonardo Da Vinci
Posted 11/17/2009 at 12:38:46 PMSika, animals were put on this earth for us to eat. Man was designed to eat meat. That's why we have teeth designed for flesh-ripping. Most farms practice the most humane way as possible of killing livestock. It's not violence, it's simply providing for our basic human needs.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 12:44:22 PMProverbs 12
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
As I Googled for that verse I found this by accident
http://www.jewfaq.org/animals.htm
It is a violation of Jewish law to neuter a pet. The Torah prohibits castrating males of any species (Lev. 22:24). Although this law does not apply to neutering female pets, neutering of females is prohibited by general laws against tza'ar ba'alei chayim (causing suffering to animals).
Wow, I had no idea that the old testament prohibits neutering a pet dog or cat
I am against neutering and spaying pets
I think it is 100% complete bulls---
Posted 11/17/2009 at 01:51:57 PMIt is cruelty to animals. The people that believe in this garbage are like brainwashed nazis
http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/an-tpr-are-04.html
The Bible’s Teachings on Protecting Animals and Nature
by Lewis Regenstein
Part 4: Forbidding Cruelty to Animals
The Bible clearly decrees that cruelty to domestic animals is forbidden. The ox, we are also told, is entitled to the fruit of its labor: "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn" (Deuteronomy 25:4). Moreover, Deuteronomy 22:10 tells us "Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together," suggesting that pairing animals of different sizes and strengths would cause a conflict and would place a strain on the weaker of them or perhaps on both.
The books of Exodus (22:29) and Leviticus (22:27-28) require that a newborn animal remain with its mother for the first week of its life before being sacrificed, so that the young creature can have at least seven days of warmth and nourishment from its mother. And “ye shall not kill it and its young both in one day,” presumably to avoid the trauma of having the mother see her infant slain before her.
Contrast these ancient and remarkably humane laws of a primitive people of three to four thousand years ago to modern-day factory farming practices. Today, veal calves are usually taken from their mothers at birth, denied mother’s milk and other nutrition, deliberately undernourished and kept their entire lives in a small crate in which they cannot move around. These circumstances produce an anemic, muscle-free condition in the calf that gives the meat its tenderness and light appearance.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 01:59:38 PMI am a meat eater also, but respect must be used in raising these animals. There are ways to feed the world that are respectful to the dignity of the animal.This is barbaric and it is time the veil is lifted about how the majority of our food is produced. It benefits no one but the large corporations like Hatfield, Smithfield, Tyson, Purdue, Cargill and the select few. May I suggest to all reading this to write your politicians at county, state and federal level, write to the USDA at federal and state level, and do not buy this meat. Everytime you purchase food, you are voting. And when you exercise your write to vote, make sure your legislators are on the same page. Change will not come from Washington. It will come from external grassroots organizations. Look at our website
Posted 11/17/2009 at 03:42:40 PMpbccg.com
We are hosting free dinner and the movie Food, Inc. Dec 13th from 4-8. Educate yourself. Come see the movie and let us serve you a spaghetti dinner with pasture-raised beef or with marinara sauce.
Support socially responsible agriculture where animals are raised with respect, as well as the rural communities, and our natural resources.
Marie Heck, =) it was your meds. I agree that executing a convicted capital felon is not only acceptable, it is required for the health of society. I also agree that killing an unborn baby is utterly wrong. It is not "merely a fetus." It is denying a human being due process, something the criminal received.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 04:34:49 PMOmg why does everything need to get taken out of praportion!? We are a society that generally treats all animals the best they can yes I see that there are some people that did wrong; but just because there are some bad people out there that seems to always outway the good ones.I did my homework I looked up info about these 2 companys they are very upset about what happened and they have fixed it they also think it was wrong what happened so quit trying to ruin them and everyone else!!! The criminal is the one who sat back with a recorder and let it go on just to get footage that makes it even worse so u are just as guilty so quit trying to make the good companys look bad and look at ur sick selves knowing its wrong and watching it OMG pot calling the kettle! Me I would have stopped a lot of the things seen and hey I am even a meat eater!
Posted 11/17/2009 at 04:37:29 PMYes, absolutely disgusting. And it seems to be the norms. I suggest that the pork producers who claim to be humane put their money where their mouth is and spend a lot of money on lobbying for extremely harsh punishment for abusers.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 05:41:58 PMAmen Eric! Yes or how about regulations on humane treatment while they are being raised. I'm wondering how many reading this realize Tom Vilsack USDA just gave the pork producers another $50 million dollar bailout for a whopping total of $105 million this year. Our school lunch programs will be serving lots of ham in the year to come.
Posted 11/17/2009 at 05:55:38 PMThank you alexa for clearing that up for me! Lortabs can be horrible sometimes! I agree with you on both of those subjects. Don't kill innocent babies and convicts on death row should be put to death.
I have read some of the other posts that have been put on here and realized something. People are sittin here worried about how our food is delivered to us. Yes, it is wrong to throw a pig or any animal against a wall or anything else. But, its not like humans don't treat other humans just as bad or worse. Really people? Tryin to talk to our government for more humane ways to kill our lunch or supper? Yes it would be ideal, but we are not living in an ideal world. No offense but I don't hold out much hope for our government to do anything for us, much less animals! Children are being sold by their own mothers for prostitution and then killed; CHILDREN being beaten worse than these pigs EVERYDAY right here in our own country, sometimes right in our own towns;children, women and men being abused and killed and raped, and we are worried about pigs? Me I'm not much of a pig eater, I like beef and chicken better. I also live in a town in sw kansas where there is a meat packing plant, this plant is the major source of jobs for people here. There are the people who bring in the cows (my husband used to do that), there are the people who kill the cows, there are the people who cut them up, there are the people who package the meat, and there are the people in the offices making sure many places around the country get the beef. Now if what some of you people want ever happened, slaughter houses, meat packing plants, and the like gettin shut down, in my town alone there would be around 5000 people without jobs. Does that sound fair? Would you like to help support all those families or would you rather have those places stay open? Me personally I want them to stay open.
And I agree with some of the people on here. What kind of a sick person would sit there and record that? What does that say about them?! And if what some others are sayin is true and the company fired the people responsible and have since fixed the situatin, why was this vidoe even leaked? I mean to me that's just askin to start something. But hey that's just me.
Look I guess what I'm tryin to say is, yes it is horrible, but its also life. We should be more concerned with how we treat other humans or dare I say, the endangered animals that my daughter may never get to see. We have ate animals forever. Maybe some of you people should be more concerned with finding ways to stop hunger, homelessness, the muders and rapes of children, women, and men in OUR OWN COUNTRY than with tryin to rally people to boycott these companies, which by the way, if you do that and the good people lose their jobs, just adds to more people going hungry and losing their homes. Ah, the cycle never ends, does it? But hey, its only my opinion.
Posted 11/18/2009 at 03:34:36 AMWe should be concerned about ALL of these issues. A civilized
society will not engage in this form of abuse just so the corporate stronghold few can make a profit
There are hog hoop barns that are safer and more humane.
This is not acceptable for the animals, the environment, the small farmer, rural communities or the consumer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJU3YMLOpVo
Posted 11/18/2009 at 09:09:14 AMI wanted to point out that the heinous things shown in this video don't just include the piglet-throwing and other (allegedly) "non-standard" practices. There is also the very existence of the cruel gestation crates that a sow is kept in for months on end, where she can't move around and can only take a step or two back and forward. These crates are now banned in 9 US states and across Europe. If you have compassion for these animals, please be aware that gestation crates are the shameful norm in the US and join the opposition to their continued use.
As for the repulsive employee behaviors revealed in this video. Time and time again, undercover video at factory farms shows this kind of thing going on: employes seemingly taking pleasure in extreme animal abuse. You have to wonder why that is. Do factory farms just employ people with abusive tendencies, or do the conditions in factory farms (designed to ensure maximum profit at minimal cost) bring out the worst in people, or cause levels of frustration and/or underlying guilt even so great that the animals, and their pain and screaming and attempts to escape, ultimately become the object of anger and they "get what they deserve."
If you have the guts to take this a bit further, read the diary at the Mercy For Animals website. Personally I found it harder to handle than the video. Note the input about how sows who manage to unlock their crates will frequently go on to unlock the crates of other pigs... We are talking about animals here who are easily as smart as dogs... Something to think about.
Posted 11/18/2009 at 02:07:19 PMhttp://www.mercyforanimals.org/pigs/field-notes.asp
marie heck, Yes children are being beaten every day...BY THE SAME TYPE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ABUSING THESE ANIMALS! There is a direct connection between animal cruelty and the abuse of children, the elderly and others who are helpless. They are not committing these acts out of efficiency or necessity. It is because they ENJOY being sadistic monsters.
And if you think, big deal, we need to eat. Well, do you really think what they're doing doesn't ALSO contaminate the meat you're eating? Would you throw your plate of food down on that floor and then pick it up and eat it? Do you think these killers are CLEANING AND SANITIZING your food after they do this?
Posted 11/18/2009 at 02:18:06 PMMarie Heck, no worries.
I do not agree with the idea that cruelty and torture must be tolerated in order to maintain an industry.
Slave traders made the same argument.
Justifying criminal acts to "save the jobs" is not good enough in America, and it is one of the reasons why America is everyone's favorite immigration destination, legal or otherwise.
Besides, we can do both quite more easily inside the controlled environment of a plant or even inside an industry. Business responds lightning fast when it agrees on a policy and thinks it will make or save them money.
Right now, being humane is considered expensive, just like being safe is, except that safety at least has a champion (OSHA).
Animals have no one.
That cruelty is dispensed by humans against other humans is not a satisfactory argument in support of turning a blind eye.
In America, without something We The People can see for ourselves, the offenders will claim the accuser is making it up. And then for decade upon decade abuse will continue because We The People will not take any action unless and until we have "proof."
And video "proof" is not fool-proof proof. I am always skeptical of video that doesn't show from the moment it was turned on until it is turned off, with a running frame count. I like it better when it is presented in conjunction with testimony, documents, receipts, etc.
The videographer was not only *not* guilty of anything near the same calibre as the abusers, he provided us what we demand before we'll intercede.
Outside of the meat industry, video and witness statements would be suitable for a warrant (which is just one step in an investigation). But only because these cruelties were committed while producing food, they are merely controversial.
Whenever I eat animals, I feel like I'm eating someone else's sins. I soften the blow a little by at least making an effort at buying food labeled as "cruelty-free." It's barely a flimsy start.
I'm not saying don't kill to eat. I'm saying don't mistreat the poor creatures while they're alive.
It's not hard to be humane. It's not.
Posted 11/18/2009 at 05:50:09 PMFor those of us who do eat meat, you can buy pasture raised free range hogs which are raised with respect not only for the animals, but the environment,which are not misusing our antibiotics and the food is nutritionally more dense.
Posted 11/18/2009 at 06:35:46 PMWe vote every time we buy food. Do not support Hatfield, Smithfield, Tyson, Purdue, Cargill or those who do not respect the animals. This atrocity is not only in swine, but poultry , beef also. Go see the documentary Food,inc. It lifts the veil on agribusiness.
Sanity, I think you missed the whole point of what I had to say. I was merely pointing out that people want others to write to their congress and what not for something like this. I am in no way saying that this is a small insignificant problem. I love animals so I do not think it a small matter. And just because you are cruel to animals doesn't mean your gonna be a killer or an abuser. Yes while I do think there is a link, I don't agree there is a definite link between the two. My little brother killed a puppy when he was 3, he hasn't killed or abused anyone. Dennis rader aka BTK didn't abuse animals, and he terrorized wichita,ks for nearly 30 years before he was caught. He, by all accounts, was a "good man" who was a boy scout leader, a family man, a member of his church, an all around "decent" guy, according to people who "knew" him. No one suspected him for 30 years as being a sick, twisted individual. I used to like to dress my cats and dogs up in my dolls clothes when I was little and people thought that was cruel, I haven't killed anyone and I'm not an abuser. Now had you said that there is a big link between abusers, molesters, and the like being abused or molested themselves, I would have totally agreed. But there isn't always a link between these "people" and animal abuse.
Another thing, you mentioned cleanliness. Everything in this world is contaminated in one way or another. Not even hospitals are 100% sanitary. I could get e.coli from not cooking my meat all the way and I could get it from a taco from taco bell. How namy times have you heard a restaurant, whether its a big chain or a hometown one, gettin shut down for one reason or another for unsantitary conditions? Does that mean we should boycott them as well? Or that maybe we shouldn't eat there anymore? I went to high school with a girl who worked at sonic and she said if people were rude they would spit in their food or drinks. But. I still went there, I just made sure I was nice. No place is completely sanitary, not even your own home.
Alexa, once again I agree with you. Just because you are going to kill an animal doesn't mean you have to torture it first. While there are a few bad apples in some businesses doesn't mean all of them are. I know at the meat packing plant and the pigs farms here where I live takes the safetey of the cows and pigs very seriously. When my husband used to haul them they had so many rules to follow that sometimes protected the cows more than the people loading them. They couldn't kick them, use their cattle prods or whips, even if one was attacking them or was on top of them. One of our friends was almost crushed to death when they were loading cows and all the company was worried about was if the cow was ok or if anyone had hurt the cow. He even hauled pigs a couple of times and there were more special rules than there was with the cows. They had to stop every couple of hours to water them down and before they could load them they had to lay down special hay and stuff for them to lay on.
I'm not sayin that we should turn a blind eye on animal cruelty. I actually think there should be harsher punishments. I just meant that people are gettin all bent out of shape over something that happened and the company corrected the problem, the idiot abusers lost their jobs.
Its over and done with. We can only move on and try to fix the problem. But there are more pressing matters that need fixed first. To me, this is a small matter, although not insignificate, compared to murders, rapes, molestation, and human abusers. But once again, its only my opinion.
Posted 11/18/2009 at 08:04:20 PMAs stated in another post, firing the employed doesn't change the procedure.
Posted 11/18/2009 at 08:18:32 PMI wathed the whole video, although it was wery disturbing for me. I eat meat and I like that, but I ofted think about the animal whose life is taken for me and my family to put on our table. This is not the first video I have seen and on this subject and it will not be the last. I would have liked to see this idividuals who subjected the aninmals to this cruelty brought to justice. It would be a reminder for others not to behave in such a manner.
Targer Iceland
Posted 11/19/2009 at 05:47:14 AMThank you Mr. X for that info I have not eaten meat since a teenager and I am now 51. I live about 20 minutes from Hatfield processing plant.
I was horrified and also posted a comment on Care One site which is how I found out about it. Anyone planning a demonstration in front of Hatfield. What about PETA getting involved.
We are so not evolving as humans, we waste,kill,torture and all for the sake of our egotistical selfish self. When are we going to wake up. And whatever you believe- Jesus, Allah or Buddha I am certain they would rather push humane vegetarianism than promote such cruel and torturous behavior.
Posted 11/19/2009 at 07:36:54 AMTo Marie Heck; If people stopped eating meat other jobs would come up. Your life would change there would be less violence and hatred.Men would rape less, children and women would not be enslaved. Domestic violence would also decrease.Sexual abuse would decrease. You cherish life more and realize how much of an impact what you do affects everything else you come in contact with. You see the divine connection and that thread that runs through all life. I do want to point out that this is what I believe and feel having known a lot of vegetarian and macrobiotic folks.
Posted 11/19/2009 at 08:12:17 AMChoosing to eat meat is one of the most wasteful forms of energy. From growing the grains to feeding the animals to the processing of them. And then the waste that is left over to deal with. The antibiotics used to the chemicals that are used in the whole production.
Who do you think you are that you are more important than another living being on this planet. God or Jesus or whatever you believe would not want a single soul to kill and torture and treat another being that way. I swear if I had to choose between an animal being tortured to feed me I would take death any day.
The person who taped this video had to to expose what goes on otherwise it would never be brought to our attention how cruel the meat industry is. And firing the people responsible is not going to change the factory farming procedure until people stop eating meat or eat a lot less that is at least raised in a more humane way.
Here is something to think about is it not our right as stewards of the earth to treat this planet and what is on it with respect and love. And to be grateful in a positive and cherishing way. To realize our true gift here and potential as humane beings to create and not destroy so much.
When I was a child and started to realize where and how food came to me and what happened in the before process I was really disturbed and upset by it. My younger son proclaimed his vegetarianism when he could speak at daycare. He told them he did not eat animals and I did not tell him that or push it on him and to this day he still does not. To be fair my older son does eat some meat by his choosing. But does at the very least get antibiotic free and local chicken also some venison that someone gave him.
Just so you know I do not push my beliefs onto others just trying to educate.
So kathy, but what your sayin, and you said your not tryin to push your beliefs and what not on, which your whole comment pretty much does, if we stopped killin animals, then the world would be a much nicer place?!?! How ignorant are you?! Do you live in a pretty violent free bubble?! What does killin animals have to do with all the horrible things going on in this world?! What does it have to do with wars, violence, rape, murder, incest, or any other horrible thing in this world?! And where in her comment did she say anything about women and children being enslaved?! Did you pull that out of your pretty little perfect head?!
I'm not exactly the best Christian in the world but I'm pretty sure Jesus wasn't a vegetarian. Even the picture of the last supper has MEAT on the table.
Not every farm, feedlot, slaughter house or whatever tortures the animals before they kill them. Some are treated well. And you say if people stop eatin meat, more jobs would be created? Like what? Think of the MILLIONS of people who would be out of jobs if people stopped eating meat. MILLIONS on top of the already stressed economy. Yea that's just what we need.
And you say that you didn't encourage your younger son to become a vegetarian? I can only tell by your asinine comment that you are one yourself, so yes, in a way you did encourage him to become one.
And your older son eats venison? Look at wikipedia. The first sentence reads " venison can describe meat of any mammal killed by hunting." So you have a problem with an isolated incident that the company was not aware of and corrected (even if it wasn't to your idiotic vegan ways) but you don't have a problem with your son eatin a deer that was hunted and killed? Man talk about being two-faced and one sided.
Kathy, you are perhaps one of the most ignorant people I have ever had the displeasure of reading their comments. Go back to your cute little suburban bubble.
Posted 11/19/2009 at 06:35:53 PMMarie Heck,
I do think you feel affection for some animals. Because your husband has worked/does work with other kinds of animals not seen in the same light, there is perhaps a ring of detachment in your view, in my opinion.
It is not unreasonable to notice this about people connected with the meat and meat related industries. It is practically a requirement for humans to be somewhat removed from their natural feelings in order to do that job. I understand.
But, with all due respect, I think it keeps a lot of people from seeing animals as capable of horrific suffering. Fear, terror and excruciating pain don't bother you as much, as long as it is only animals who suffer? Just so long as God's *other* creations suffer, it's tolerable?
If all the rules and regulations of the industry are still not enough to *prevent* the abuse of animals (they didn't stop the featured abusers), why not?
Clearly, just firing the abusers is not enough. Because it only means the animal abusers can move along to a different plant, and start the abuse all over again, on a vulnerable population.
There have to be criminal and financial penalties because otherwise the abusers will keep right on abusing *because they know we will tolerate it.*
Obviously, murder, rape and robbery have been around since the dawn of man. All the laws prohibiting these crimes has not driven them out of existence. If only.
I think humans are talented enough to deal with the crime of animal abuse while also dealing with human on human crimes. We have to, if only out of self-respect.
I'm, well, amazed that you would knowingly still spend your money at a restaurant where food is spit into because of someone's opinion of a customer. My stomach did a flip flop.
If a worker will spit in your food because they didn't like your attitude, what if they just think you're dressed funny? But, as long as they spit in everyone else's food, just not yours, it's ok?
Sorry, but if you *don't* punish such people and refuse to tolerate that disgusting and life threatening behaviour, *especially* when it happens to someone else, then *you* signal it will take worse before you'll respond.
The broken window. If you allow a window to be broken by thugs, then *you* tell *them* that you will tolerate more.
Predictably, criminals probably won't think "Ok, now let's repair the window we broke, and see if they'll take *that*!"
Posted 11/19/2009 at 09:33:24 PMA farmer was right when he said that not all hogs that go to Hatfield are raised by CVFF. I currently manage a farm that contracts to Hatfield but I have NO AFFILIATION whatsoever, only the selling contract. And I can also assure you that pigs are NOT improperly handled in my care. The problem is that when people see one clip such as was taken at CVFF, they assume that ALL farms are managed this way. That would be like going to a restaurant, getting bad service, and assuming all restaurants are bad. (In a sense) I will in NO WAY defend the actions of some things in the clip. However, I do know that picking a pig up by it's hind legs does not injure it and is actualy the correct way to pick one up without hurting it. It keeps the pig from fighting, thus lowering the risk of injury to the animal or the handler. The gas chamber part, well, the company admitted that the chamber was not working correctly, but even if it were, how could it possibly work correctly if the person is standing over it with the lid OPEN, taking pictures and letting the gases out?? Helllloooo?? Isn't the point? to keep gas in and air out?? Use your head people. And the farrowing crates are intended to be built the way they are to keep piglets from being crushed when the mother lies down. They are built so that the pigs can easily move in and out away from the mother without being injured by her huge body, but still be able to get plenty of nourishing milk from their mom. And the cuts and scratches, all animals, including you and I have them. Does that mean we were abused? No, I don't think. After watching the video, I will not say that none of the injuries came from the employees, but I'm sure that some were just that: scratches. Again, I will say I am not defending some of the actions that were shown in the video, however, some of the things shown were completely out of context. Which I can say from experience. So next time you see a clip of these "bad" people that raise your food at ONE farm, find a clip from the "GOOD" people that raise your food at a THOUSAND other farms. Please do not judge all farms because of another farm's hired morons.
Posted 11/19/2009 at 09:34:06 PMBy the way, if you find a clip of the good farms let me know. All you will ever hear is the bad stuff. Remember that!!
Posted 11/19/2009 at 09:41:43 PMAlexa, I guess I should have mentioned that it did take several years before I ate at another sonic, even months before I actually ate at a fast food restaurant. And even when I did go back to sonic I found a piece of the ice cream machine in my ice cream! I took it back and all they said was "we were lookin for that!" and "we can make you another one!"I didn't eat there for another 5 years. And when it got to one of our teachers what was going on he went to the manager and told him what was going on and the girl I went to school with and about 4 other employees were fired.
I only meant that if you look for bad things, you will find them in any business. The sonic thing didn't make front news in our local paper, but a lot of people knew about it and most stopped eatin there. Almost 10 years later I still have a problem eatin there or any fast food restaurant.
Once again, I agree with you. I think there should be harsher punishment for animal cruelity. Your absolutely right to say what's to stop those people who did this from going somewhere else and doing it again. There isn't and there should be.
But I don't think I have a ring of detachment. I have known for a long time how cows are killed. My great grandparents owned a farm and they often slaughtered their own cows. Now, I wouldn't always be present right there watching it, but I would be running around and I would hear the adults talkin about it, even while we were eatin (yes a little gross, but that's the way farm life is I guess).
My grandma would make my mom, aunts, and uncles help kill chickens. I have never done it, but I have heard all the gory (and sometimes even funny) stories of how they flop around. But I'm still gonna eat it.
I guess you could say I'm a little desentizied (sorry if I spelled that wrong! Don't have spell check on my phone for all you grammar freaks out there!). I still love my animals and I still love to eat meat.
Pig farmer, thank you. You pretty much summed up what I have been trying to, unsussecfully I guess, say. Not all places are like this one. Keep up your good work and maybe one of these days we will actually see a clip of you and others like you.
Posted 11/19/2009 at 11:30:48 PMMarieHeck, LOL! Oh my. "We were looking for that"? Oh my. Yeah, it'd take me a number of years to get over that too.
I do also understand when a small town has few "restaurant" options. Sometimes, you're tired, the wrong one is closer to you where you're stuck in traffic, so, well, you give in.
Well, hopefully now with more public attention on the offending plant, they will tighten up their inspections and realize that it is really bad business to piss off the entire nation.
Here's to all the good farms who do treat their animals with kindness and kill them truly humanely, and here's to better fast food dining.
Posted 11/19/2009 at 11:43:29 PMAlexa
Lmao that's exactlly what they said! I replied back " I wasn't lookin for that" I just thought it was a big chunk of chocolate ( it was when they had the s'mores blasts!) And bit into it. I swear I chipped a tooth! But yea we do have very little restaurants to choose from. We have the usual: sonic, mcdonalds, wendys,burger king, braums, taco bell, long john silvers, pizza hut, subway, applebees, and arbys. Well I guess we have more than I thought! But I am one of those people that just don't really like fast food and would rather cook it myself or help my family cook our food. That way I know if something dropped or not! Now if we had an olive garden, popeyes, and a chick filet I would probably eat out more often, but the closest ones to me are 3-4 hours away!
Hopefully this did open that companies eyes to what was going on. I personally have never even heard of this company til I read about it on here, but I'm not going to judge them based solely on this.
Amen to the good farmers! They sure do make an occasional whooper an awesome meal!
Posted 11/20/2009 at 04:29:20 AMTo Alexa & Marie,
Posted 11/20/2009 at 02:03:25 PMYou both have very good points and seem to have a reasonable approach to this subject. I was a cornfed little farm kid that saw a lot of gross stuff in his time. But when you grow up seeing these things, eventually, it turns into a way of life. I have seen calves that had to be pulled, cows with twisted stomach operations, sick animals that had to be euthanized and more things too numerous to name. Does that make me an animal abuser?? Definitely not!! I was appaled by the video of the pig farm abuse and agree with you that those involved should be punished to the full extent!! The saddest thing after reading all these posts is that everyone thinks that by boycotting Hatfield, they will punish CVFF, they WILL NOT! They will be punishing thousands and thousands of farms like mine that have been strictly enforcing proper animal treatment since day one. Does that mean no one at my farm has never hit a pig. Probably not. But if I don't see it and no one tells, how do I know? (As was the case at CVFF)But I would not ever knowingly tolerate that behavior. I am very disturbed to think that so many people after seeing ONE video would stereotype an entire industry because of 2 or 3 bad employees. Doesn't every operation have a couple of those?? I also wonder the same question as from another post: Why did the person taking the pix and videos stay for an entire 3 months and not stop this behavior? Wouldn't you think that made him as guilty as the other guilty parties? To just let it happen so he could just get more video and pictures?? He's as big a moron as the morons. I just wish people who thought all these farms were bad could spend just one day at a good one. Maybe they would understand, we're not all assholes.
To the Pig Farmer and the folks who took the video,
Posted 11/20/2009 at 03:02:15 PMI love animals and also do eat meat at times but I have to agree,THe person who stayed and took the video my question is WHY did you stay and what did you do at this Farm for those months? I am sure the boss and workers who you claim are nuts did not let you stand around and do nothing but video??? I have been asking this from all the animal causes and they never answer the question. WHy and what and why so long . ONE day would be enough for any person who loves GOD's creatures .. Remember GOD made the humans last .... humans are not nice to each other and seem to love to see sick things done to anyone.. SO I would love someone to answer my question and with all the funds people donate START to really save and clean up and put a change to have the US not be like others are in different countries .. Really sick of all this stuff and NO one really cares about the world or what is in it.
Pig farmer,
Once again I completely 100% agree with everything you said. Not to get off subject, but look at truck drivers. Everyone assumes that they are all cranked up, creepy,don't care about 4-wheelers, and think the roads belong to them (which in a way, they kinda do! They are bigger!) But not all of them are like that. I will honestyly admit that I used think just like that, and am somewhat ashamed to also say, I didn't really change my mind til two events happened: one, my dad became a truck driver. And two, a very nice truck driver picked me up after I had walked 4 miles in very chilly weather. Not once did anyone driving a car or whatever offer to help me and I was about 17 when this happened. My car had broken down, at 10 o'clock at night, and I had no signal on my cell phone. He picked me up after a few truck drivers goig the opposite way I was walkin told him about me over th cb. It was also the first time I had ever rode with a cow hauler. To those of you who have seen someone hauling livestock you might get mad because they move all over the place. I used to get so irritated that they moved around so much! But, I found out why! Cows don't stand still and when you have 30 or so cows in a trailer each weighing about 2500 lbs, well now you can see why the trailers move all over the place. Then when I met my husband, he was a cow hauler. Never in my life did I imagine I would marry a truck drver, but I'm glad I did! I rode with him a bunch of times and would be amased at how many cars would try to beat them and pass them when it wasn't safe. I don't know how many times we almost got into wrecks, and it wasn't our fault! Even now, though he has since switched sides and is now delivering the food to feedlots instead of hauling cows/pigs, some people still have no consideration for him, or most other truck drivers I know. Remember people, it takes a loaded truck at LEAST an entire length of a football field to come to a complete stop, if not more!
Ok, I'm done with my little rant! I know it was a little of subject in a way. Like pig farmer said, just cause a few are one way doesn't mean the THOUSANDS of others are the same way. Just cause one farmer is one way doesn't mean they all are.
Posted 11/20/2009 at 03:46:03 PMEd i wanted to reply to ur comment by saying that one of those blurred faces was my ex husband and yes those problems were taken home. This was his second time working for the company and he was no where as bad until he started working there. It changed his whoile personality and the way he acted towards anyone or anything. He called and told me about all of this today and i was in complete shock when i watched the video. I was actually disgusted to say he was the father of my 3 babies. I never thought anyone could be so mean.
Posted 11/20/2009 at 07:18:41 PMI have worked at many different farms across this company and have experienced the procedures of 6 different farms. The procedures that are standard a cvff are more ethical than any other farm out there. This company is great to their animals and employees. One farm went against protocal on a couple things and look what happens. Both my parents work for cvff (country view family farms) and their jobs are on the line because of some radicals. Unless you understand pig farmin inside and out you won't know that cvff's procedures are ethical and efficient.
Posted 11/20/2009 at 08:52:53 PMTo Bob Stewert- I was only saying that I was not pushing my beliefs down your throat and that it is your choosing as to how you want to be and treat things in this world.What I meant by enslaving- she wrote that women were selling their children into prostitution and also being raped. Now if that is not a form on enslavement then I don't know what is. I don't like hunters and really don't like that my son has eaten deer but I certainly have more respect for someone who kills an animal more humanely than what goes on in some of the meat industry. And unless you have been a vegetarian for years or know lots of people that have- your tendency towards violent ways ends. Meaning eating meat on a constant basis makes you more aggressive and sometimes more violent. And please the picture of Jesus sitting at the last supper was painted by Leonardo DaVinci a known vegetarian. So you are wrong about that. At the table is wine, bread and some form of fish. If you want to raise your spiritual practices than cut out the animal food. 1. "Jesus belonged to the Essenes, who some historians believe were one of several Jewish sects that abhorred animal sacrifice and were practicing vegetarians."
Posted 11/21/2009 at 07:24:06 PM2. When Jesus drove the money changers from the temple, "he directed most of his ire at vendors in this 'den of thieves' who were selling animals for sacrifice and consumption."
3. "There is no mention in the New Testament of Jesus eating poultry, beef, or lamb, even during the last meal with his disciples, where Scripture mentions only bread and wine."
4. "Passages in the Bible prove that God - from the Garden of Eden on - always meant for humans to be vegetarians."
Jesus was peace loving. We in the United States are the most gluttonous eaters of meat in comparison to the rest of the world. And waste.
Kathy d,
As I was reading over comments, I also noticed that you said that its a waste to eat meat. From growing the grains to feeding them to processing them. If you are a vegetarian, do you not also eat grains and things like that? I'm assuming you eat bread, corn, things of that nature. So if there were no farmers to grow those grains and the like, wouldn't you go hungry as well as us meat eaters? And how is it a waste to feed the animals? Wouldn't that be a form of animal cruelity (sorry, smartass moment there!)? Correct me please, if I'm wrong to assume this is what you meant.
Also, if we stoped eatin meat more jobs would be created? Such as......? Cause if your right, hey I will stop eatin meat and get as many people I know to also quit eating meat. We need more jobs. But it would seem to me that if us meat eaters stop eating meat, there would be millions of good farmers out of jobs on top of the already struggling ones there are now, not to mention the many other people who are having problems finding jobs. My husband for one would be out of a job. He works for the local ethanol plant hauling wet cake (its a form of feed), milo, and corn to feedlots and farms. My mom would be out of a job (she is a dispatcher at the ethanol plant where my husband works). My dad would be out of a job ( he hauls chopped hay and milo for another company that delivers feed). Two or three of my uncles would be out of jobs ( they haul cows and feed). Now no offense, if eatin meat keeps the people I love in their jobs, I will eat meat. But if,as you say, i/we stop eatin meat will create more jobs, by all means, share your theory with us. I'm sure we would all be very interested how that would be possible. Our goverment I'm sure would love to hear it also, as they can't seem to figure it out.
Now, I don't agree at all with your "eating meat makes you more aggressive and violent." That's like sayin if your raised around drugs and alcohol, you will become a drug adict and alcoholic. Or if your mom was a teenage mother, you yourself will be one. Or if you were abused, you will abuse. I bring up these point because my biological father beat me and my older sister (yes my mom left him very soon after he did this), I do not abuse my daughter. My step-dad, who is my dad, was a drug adict and alcoholic for most of his life. Before anyone thinks less of him, he was/is A GREAT DAD. It took him a long time, but with the help of his family and a lot of help from Jesus and God, he has since turned his life around. My mom had my older sister when she was 15, me when she was 18, and our half brother when she was 21. Yes, me and my sister were young mothers ( I was 20, she was 19) but we weren't as young as our mom. My sister was in a very long term relationship ( her and her husbnad have been together for over 12 years, married almost 8 years) before she had the first of her 3 beautiful daughters. We didn't turn out anything like the "statistics" say we were going to. We have all gone to college and been descent nonviolent people. So, like I said, I do not agree with your theory on being a meat eater and violent at all, just like I didn't agree with all the statistics I was up against growing up.
But, like I said, please correct me if I have made any wrong assumptions, I don't like doin that.
Sorry, it was so long! Took a lot to get my point out!
Posted 11/22/2009 at 05:26:26 AMMy point is about the waste that goes into meat production is this: The amount of grain ,water and energy used to produce a pound of meat versus a pound of grain. Plus the pollution and ecol i runoff from animal waste. Have you ever driven by a pig farm- the smell can knock you over. Animals are being factory farmed in the most cruel and unusual ways- they are fed mostly to fatten them as quickly as possible to get more bang for your buck. They would not be starving because they would not exist on this planet. We are mass producing them to eat not to feed as pets. They are also given growth hormones and a cocktail of antibiotics to grow them fast and keep them from getting sick under the stress of mass amounts of them. Please put yourself in their place and tell me you would want to be raised in that horrible of way and then brutally killed and eaten.
Food that is being produced now bares no resemblance to what it originally was. Most mothers I met when raising my sons did not even make their lunch- they bought premade junk. The teachers used to tell me how great that was. That I took the time to do that. Look on the backs of packages and the list of chemicals. It is not just meat. There are so many chemicals that react to our brains it is destroying us as human beings.
About the meat eating thing- we will always need farmers to grow food and grains etc. It does not have to be just meat. And I would rather see ethically raised farming with animals than the factory farming that is going on now. I grew up in a farm area that unfortunately now grew developments. There is not one farm left where I grew up. I am not against farmers. I hate what had happened in my town.
By the way I had an extremely abusive physically and mentally mother growing up and when I was a teen did alot of drugs including heroin. I did no harm to anything but myself. I loved animals, I worked all the time and even forgave my mother and took care of her when she was sick and died. I had a boyfriend whom tried to kill me when he was manic and have a scar just below my neck. I stopped drugs on my own and raised two boys pretty much by myself. I work at my own business and 2 1/2 years ago bought my own house.
Posted 11/22/2009 at 07:34:44 PMDave your a pig. YOu can eat meat but have a f-ing heart. That's such an awful thing to say. It has to be the lowest level of conciousness that i've encountered in quite some time. Congrats. make the world proud with your profound comments.
Posted 11/22/2009 at 10:21:10 PMKathy d,
Yes I know all about the smell of pig farms. As I have said before, there iis a meat packing plant here where I live as well as pig/cow farms. Also where I live our "breeze" would be 20-30 mph winds, what most people would consider horrible winds, but we don't here! Its normal. So get the meat packin plant, all the farms, and the landfill going with high winds, yea it all smells horrible. A smell that even after almost my whole life here, I still can't get used to it!
But not all animals are being raise like they were at this place, or just for food. Yes the majority of them are raised for food, but I know a lot of farmers who raise them to have them. Whether its chickens for farm fresh eggs (which taste the best to me!) or cows for milk. You can't sit in judgment of all, or even most, farms for the way a few bad ones are. That's just not right. I think its cruel to see any animal out in the middle of a field in the rain or snow, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to think the farmer/farmers are cruel, its just farm life.
Did you read pig farmers comments? There are good ones out there. The bad ones give him and others a bad name. You can't group them all together. And like he said, abuse, as far as he knows, doesn't go on at his farm. But if it did, which from his comments I don't think it does or would, IF it did and no one said anything to him, how could he correct it?
Think about your kids. You can teach them all you want/need, but that doesn't mean that they are gonna act or think or behave the way you have taught them when they are away from you. Does that make you a bad mom? I don't think so. It means people have a mind of their own and will act the way they want, regardless of rules or what they have been taught. That is what I believe happened here. Some employees did what they wanted, but I don't think other employees or higher ups condonned this or even knew about it.
You just can't simply say everyone there is bad, or all farmers are bad, or even all meat eaters are bad. If I went with that line of thinking, I could think all vegetarians are tree-hugging hippies, but I don't, cause that's just wrong.
I am very sorry for what you have had to go thru in your life, but I am happy to see you have made more of yourself.
Posted 11/23/2009 at 12:58:31 AMYou know what Kathy D??? You have absolutely NO IDEA how hogs are raised. Apparently you have never really had a whole lot to do with farming. Hogs raised in hog farms are NOT fed antibotics!!! Do you know how much trouble I'd be in and how many fines I would have to pay if I sent an animal to market that tested positive for antibiotics? It is people like you who feed bullshit to ignorant people to make them believe what you want them to believe. Every animal that is sent to any livestock auction or slaughter house is subject to blood testing, muscle testing, milk testing or any other kind of USDA inspection they want to perform. People who DO send these animals to market, DO pay, and the animals are stopped short of the food chain. Not only that, You say there is a waste of feed and grain because they are raised to be eaten and not fed as pets. What?? Do you think the "domesticated" ones are going to diet, or what. Come on!! They are going to eat the same amount of food whether you plan to keep them for the next 9 years or the next 9 months. That, by the way, prooves my point also. What would be the point in keeping it for the next 9 years if you don't plan on eating it anyway. It will be wasting more feed over 9 years than it will be if you just plan on keeping it long enough to raise it for food. Kathy D, I think you should really get some of your facts straight before you start ranting and raving over things you know NOTHING about.
Posted 11/23/2009 at 12:55:52 PMhey, so this is a very sad video but dont stop eating meat because of it just eat localy grown meat from family farms in your area. I am organic dairy farmer and what you see in this video is not how family farms are so just support us and not the large factory farms!!
Posted 12/03/2009 at 03:29:55 PM"Remember, we are predators. Well, at least some of us still are." -- Joe
Um, not really. If you buy your meat from these people you're not a predator, you're a carrion eater. You know, like vultures.
If you hunt your own meat that's different. But if you knowingly give money to people so that they can continue this kind of abuse you're not just a carrion eater. There's a much uglier word that applies in that case. Starts with "T".
Posted 12/31/2009 at 04:09:59 PM"Hogs raised in hog farms are NOT fed antibotics!!! " - Pig Farmer
Having just read an AP story which states that hogs are routinely fed antibiotics I'd say you are wrong. They say that 70 percent of the antibiotics used in the US are given to pigs, chickens and cows. And they profiled a farmer who got sick because he gave his hogs antibiotics which spawned a drug resistant bacteria strain. They also quoted a USDA study that antibiotics are given to reduce feed costs by up to 30 percent in young pigs.
Another farmer in the article stated that he routinely feeds his hogs an antibiotoc but withdraws it several weeks before sending them to slaughter so that they would not test positive for the drug.(http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091228/ARTICLES/912289946)
So Pig Farmer, it sounds like your assertion is not quite correct.
Posted 12/31/2009 at 04:25:48 PMKathy,
I was interested in what you blogged, so I checked it out. I have been doing research on slaughterhouses. So I thought Ed might be interested in this also.
Antibiotics were given to grower/finisher pigs in feed on 88.5 percent of sites. These sites accounted for 95.9 percent of all grower/finisher pigs. Sites in the southern region were more likely to administer antibiotics to pigs from weaning through market age in water, orally, or by injection than were sites in other regions.
More large sites (10,000 or more pigs) gave antibiotics in feed, by injection, or in water to weaning through market age pigs than did sites with less than 10,000 pigs
Posted 12/31/2009 at 05:14:15 PMthis made me hungry. mmm meat
Posted 02/05/2010 at 08:53:50 AMI am proud to say that I work at a breeding/farrowing barn for CVFF. I love my job and I love working with animals. I have my Bachelor of Science in livestock management and can honestly say that these images were taken out of context. CVFF is a great company that cares about their animals and employees. The harm that was done in this video was done by one person who didn't care. It was taken care of and steps have been taken to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again. I encourage all of you to learn more about livestock and why certain procedures and handling techniques are used before making up for your mind.
Posted 02/16/2010 at 09:07:51 PM