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The Food Dialogues is a site created and managed by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). USFRA created The Food Dialogues to answer Americans’ questions about how food is grown and raised. This organization, which is a coalition of farmers, ranchers and their industry partners, is committed to continuously improving how they grow and raise food that provides healthy choices for people everywhere. Through The Food Dialogues, USFRA hopes to bring together different viewpoints on farming and ranching and the future of food to solve our most challenging problems.

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Questions Within: Animal Care

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When reading on here it seems like some people who are asking questions or posting their opinions are not fully educated on both sides of the topic they are talking about. So I would like to encourage everyone before posting to do research on the topic you are posting about. And when you're doing research, research both sides of the topic, even if you don't agree with one side. Take for instance if you're against all factory farms don't just watch a movie like Food Inc. (yes I have watched it and I thought it was very biased) also do research as to why practices are done a certain way in the farming industry. Go and visit a farm or talk to a farmer that are using the practices you are against, ask questions you might come away with a better understanding of why things are done that way. And most importantly have an open mind and try to better understand how and why things are done a certain way. Is there a better way for something to be done, yes there most likely is.

Author: TaylorFarms

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (1)

0

Vote

I think how we treat our animals has a lot to do with the quality of our end product. And I think that way is free range, because the animals get to run and play and act like they did back in the early days when we didn't pump them full of hormones and other drugs. On a good note. I am pleased that we are getting rid of those inhumane sow pens. Ken Sokolowski, White Cloud MI

Author: Sokolowski farm

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (2)

2

Vote

Just saw your ad on food safety for the first time. Very impressed with the honesty and integrity of the farmers and their families. I take great encouragement that they show such pride in what they produce and they have the same concerns I do. My question is about the final process of producing meat; the slaughter process. I have HUGE concerns over this and eat zero meat anymore as a way to protest the inhumane treatment. I did enjoy eating meat and wonder why the meat industry does not do more to promote a transparent slaughter process to the public? I would be so pleased and able to go back to eating meat if I knew without doubt that the animals are treated humanely from farm to table. What can the USFRA do to promote a more humane life cycle and reassure consumers on animal welfare? It seems so simple to me that the big slaughterhouses and meat producers gain consumer confidence by magnifying this process and commit to humane treatment for all farm animals.

Author: gail

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (2)

0

Vote

Is the problem within the farm where animals may or may not be raised in a humane manner or is the biggest problem in the slaughterhouses?

Author: grams5100

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (0)

0

Vote

The Humane Society of the United States, HSUS, has been active in states across the country working to regulate animal producers through initiative petitions. What is HSUS up to in your state and what impact have they had in producers in your state?

Author: Dan Kleinsorge

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (0)

0

Vote

Hi, I'm interested in seeing for myself where the eggs I buy come from. I've tried calling several egg producers but none seem to want to let me see inside a regular battery cage barn. I know this group is devoted to starting an open dialogue between farmers and consumers. Should who should a consumer like me call if we want to see how the eggs we eat are produced?

Author: Consumer 7

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (3)

3

Vote

Why are animals in feedlots treated so horribly? I buy local organic meat these days. The thought of eating an animal that stands in its own filth and is unable to graze is just not an option for me.

Author: Sueco

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (5)

10

Vote

Why are antibiotics feed to livestock inside CAFO or what the industry calls fed lots?

Author: grassfedorganic

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (4)

1

Vote

I oppose so-called "factory farming" and want to eat animals who lived a stress free and healthy life. I buy product that is Certified Humane (when I can find it) and I follow the Humane Farming Association. However, there just isn't much out there to find. When possible, I opt for grass-fed beef on the idea that feedlots are less humane, and probably indicate less humane general treatment and slaughter (plus the meat tastes better). Terms like Free-Range chicken are ambiguous and misleading. Whole Foods rates their meat on a scale of humane treatment, which I applaud. When possible, I buy beef from a local rancher with whom I can converse. But I cannot always do that. And forget about going to a restaurant and getting anyone there to know squat about their animal product. How can we as consumers be assured that the meat we are purchasing was not abused while alive, and was slaughtered as humanely as possible? What can we do to get the government to allow such practices as mobile abattoir to be more affordable? How can we counter the bad-press shown by such organizations as HSUS, PeTa, etc?

Author: plarkinjr

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (2)

5

Vote

Could you explain the difference between animal rights and animal welfare?

Author: Ashlee

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (2)

2

Vote

How are America's farmers and ranchers addressing concerns about animal welfare particularly in factory farms? Particularly with regards to the call by many very popular food journalists (like Michael Pollan and James Rachels) to end factory farming

Author: qanimal

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (3)

16

Vote

What's the difference between grass- and corn-fed beef?

Author: USFRA

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Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (7)

7

Vote

How are America's farmers and ranchers addressing concerns about animal welfare particularly in factory farms? Particularly with regards to the call by many very popular food journalists (like Michael Pollan and James Rachels) to end factory farming

Author: qanimal

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (3)

16

Vote

Why are animals in feedlots treated so horribly? I buy local organic meat these days. The thought of eating an animal that stands in its own filth and is unable to graze is just not an option for me.

Author: Sueco

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (5)

10

Vote

What's the difference between grass- and corn-fed beef?

Author: USFRA

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (7)

7

Vote

I oppose so-called "factory farming" and want to eat animals who lived a stress free and healthy life. I buy product that is Certified Humane (when I can find it) and I follow the Humane Farming Association. However, there just isn't much out there to find. When possible, I opt for grass-fed beef on the idea that feedlots are less humane, and probably indicate less humane general treatment and slaughter (plus the meat tastes better). Terms like Free-Range chicken are ambiguous and misleading. Whole Foods rates their meat on a scale of humane treatment, which I applaud. When possible, I buy beef from a local rancher with whom I can converse. But I cannot always do that. And forget about going to a restaurant and getting anyone there to know squat about their animal product. How can we as consumers be assured that the meat we are purchasing was not abused while alive, and was slaughtered as humanely as possible? What can we do to get the government to allow such practices as mobile abattoir to be more affordable? How can we counter the bad-press shown by such organizations as HSUS, PeTa, etc?

Author: plarkinjr

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (2)

5

Vote

Hi, I'm interested in seeing for myself where the eggs I buy come from. I've tried calling several egg producers but none seem to want to let me see inside a regular battery cage barn. I know this group is devoted to starting an open dialogue between farmers and consumers. Should who should a consumer like me call if we want to see how the eggs we eat are produced?

Author: Consumer 7

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (3)

3

Vote

Could you explain the difference between animal rights and animal welfare?

Author: Ashlee

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (2)

2

Vote

I think how we treat our animals has a lot to do with the quality of our end product. And I think that way is free range, because the animals get to run and play and act like they did back in the early days when we didn't pump them full of hormones and other drugs. On a good note. I am pleased that we are getting rid of those inhumane sow pens. Ken Sokolowski, White Cloud MI

Author: Sokolowski farm

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (2)

2

Vote

Why are antibiotics feed to livestock inside CAFO or what the industry calls fed lots?

Author: grassfedorganic

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (4)

1

Vote

The Humane Society of the United States, HSUS, has been active in states across the country working to regulate animal producers through initiative petitions. What is HSUS up to in your state and what impact have they had in producers in your state?

Author: Dan Kleinsorge

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

Is the problem within the farm where animals may or may not be raised in a humane manner or is the biggest problem in the slaughterhouses?

Author: grams5100

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

Just saw your ad on food safety for the first time. Very impressed with the honesty and integrity of the farmers and their families. I take great encouragement that they show such pride in what they produce and they have the same concerns I do. My question is about the final process of producing meat; the slaughter process. I have HUGE concerns over this and eat zero meat anymore as a way to protest the inhumane treatment. I did enjoy eating meat and wonder why the meat industry does not do more to promote a transparent slaughter process to the public? I would be so pleased and able to go back to eating meat if I knew without doubt that the animals are treated humanely from farm to table. What can the USFRA do to promote a more humane life cycle and reassure consumers on animal welfare? It seems so simple to me that the big slaughterhouses and meat producers gain consumer confidence by magnifying this process and commit to humane treatment for all farm animals.

Author: gail

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (2)

0

Vote

When reading on here it seems like some people who are asking questions or posting their opinions are not fully educated on both sides of the topic they are talking about. So I would like to encourage everyone before posting to do research on the topic you are posting about. And when you're doing research, research both sides of the topic, even if you don't agree with one side. Take for instance if you're against all factory farms don't just watch a movie like Food Inc. (yes I have watched it and I thought it was very biased) also do research as to why practices are done a certain way in the farming industry. Go and visit a farm or talk to a farmer that are using the practices you are against, ask questions you might come away with a better understanding of why things are done that way. And most importantly have an open mind and try to better understand how and why things are done a certain way. Is there a better way for something to be done, yes there most likely is.

Author: TaylorFarms

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

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