Animal Rights Cambridge
Cruelty towards Animals Killed for Food
It is scientifically proven that farm animals feel pain.
The European Union (EU) acknowledges in its core treaty that animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing a range of emotions from suffering to pleasure.
These farm animals - sentient, complex, and as capable of feeling pain and joy as those dogs and cats we welcome into our families - are sometimes viewed by industrialised agriculture as mere meat, egg, and milk-producing machines for factory farms. (WSPA)
For images go to (defendingfarmanimals.org)
It is a common misconseption that many people believe, that slaughter houses kill animals quickly and humanely. This unfortunately is not the case. Animals are often treated badly by workers who taunt and beat them. They are then 'stunned' with an electric shock captive bolt, however sometimes this is done wrong, or the animals wait too long before they are slaughtered and regain consciousness. They are hung up by the legs and have their throat cut open (still fully conscious). This causes alot of blood loss, but some are still alive after this, they then are dipped into boiling water to burn the hair off their bodies, so the meat is 'nicer'. Many are screaming and struggling when dipped into the boiling water ( very conscious and still alive ). Although it is true some may die through shock and severe pain during these processess, many die after being shocked, cut open and boiled!
TO SEE EVIDENCE OF THESE STATEMENTS WATCH 'EARTHLINGS' THE FILM WHICH COVERS ALL ASPECTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY INCLUDING MEAT TRADE.
Factory Farming
Image from (www.atourhands.com)
Animals in factory farms are crammed into tiny cages (usually not big enough to turn around in). Factory farms are stressful for animals because they do not have the means or space to perform natural instincts such as making nests, scratching, moving around freely, searching for food, keeping clean etc.
For chickens this is the battery farms, they are crammed into cages not much bigger than 30cm with several other chickens. They are so stressed by the conditions they often have no feathers left and nasty injuries from the cage bars and pecking eachother.
In pig farms pregnant sows are held in sow stalls and farrowing crates, these prevent them from moving, so all they can do is lye in their excrement and have their piglets feed from them all day.
Barn/Intensive Reared
Although 'barn reared' labelled meat sounds nicer to meat consumers who shop in supermarkets, it is in fact no better than factory farming. Although animals are not in cages, they are still in as cramped conditions. Often thousands of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys etc are crammed into a barn building. Due to the shear number of animals kept in the one place, the conditions are dirty, hot, cramped and stressful. Often food and water are inadequate either not enough or polluted by excrement and not refreshed. Starving and injured animals lye dying on the shed floors, being trampled by others.
Markets
These are the places where their lives are auctioned off so that they can be sent to die in a frightening place where suffering is the norm. They are often treated with little respect and hit or manhandled by the farmers or market workers.
Image from (www.atourhands.com)
This image clearly shows the farmer kicking the animals, while others stand by and laugh.
Image from (www.atourhands.com)
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