I have been involved with the livestock industry for the great majority of my life. I was raised on a small family farm, my B.S. is in Animal Science, and I am pursuing a Master's in Sheep Parasitology. I really have no specific question, I would just like you to comment on what I am going to write, or not..it's whatever. I just feel like it needs to be told. Being raised by a mother who is a Veterinarian, a sense of animals being "people" too was something that seems to be in my genes. When I started my undergrad, I was amazed to hear how my fellow peers-people who would no doubt be working elbow-deep in the world of factory farming and careers closely related to such-would refer to animals in general. I had assumed that people wanting a degree that revolved so closely around animals would want to treat them as more than money, as more than just a means to an end. They spoke, and acted, as though farm animals are here solely for humans to do with as they pleased. It was quite disturbing. Not to mention the fact that I live in the bible belt; this would only enhance the behavior, as they used their god as a justification to their actions. I had thought that once I entered a higher level of education, things would improve. False hope. It seems as though even the professors are accustomed to this backward, narcissistic thinking. It is almost as if the professors are teaching the students to think this way. I understand that the industry has improved greatly over the last 40 years, but I feel like it is at a standstill. It seems that the University farms only do things as humanely as they are required, and even then it is only if they are at risk of getting in trouble. This has been troubling to me for some time now, and I really see no end in sight. I get laughed at for the way I treat my sheep, with everyone saying that I treat them too well and feed them too often. So no, it is not necessarily solely legislation's fault that things are the way they are. There is a problem with the core of the industry. When the people teaching the future of farming how to behave are mocking the "animal rights bullshit" (direct quote from several different professors), the problem will continue. And I really have no ideas on how this issue can or will be fixed. I guess the old timers must retire before anything can be accomplished. And, like I said, this is not a question. Just some facts that I think everyone should know.
EDIT: I should have stated that I am from the States. I have no idea how things are elsewhere.
LadyHaemonchus36 karma
I have been involved with the livestock industry for the great majority of my life. I was raised on a small family farm, my B.S. is in Animal Science, and I am pursuing a Master's in Sheep Parasitology. I really have no specific question, I would just like you to comment on what I am going to write, or not..it's whatever. I just feel like it needs to be told. Being raised by a mother who is a Veterinarian, a sense of animals being "people" too was something that seems to be in my genes. When I started my undergrad, I was amazed to hear how my fellow peers-people who would no doubt be working elbow-deep in the world of factory farming and careers closely related to such-would refer to animals in general. I had assumed that people wanting a degree that revolved so closely around animals would want to treat them as more than money, as more than just a means to an end. They spoke, and acted, as though farm animals are here solely for humans to do with as they pleased. It was quite disturbing. Not to mention the fact that I live in the bible belt; this would only enhance the behavior, as they used their god as a justification to their actions. I had thought that once I entered a higher level of education, things would improve. False hope. It seems as though even the professors are accustomed to this backward, narcissistic thinking. It is almost as if the professors are teaching the students to think this way. I understand that the industry has improved greatly over the last 40 years, but I feel like it is at a standstill. It seems that the University farms only do things as humanely as they are required, and even then it is only if they are at risk of getting in trouble. This has been troubling to me for some time now, and I really see no end in sight. I get laughed at for the way I treat my sheep, with everyone saying that I treat them too well and feed them too often. So no, it is not necessarily solely legislation's fault that things are the way they are. There is a problem with the core of the industry. When the people teaching the future of farming how to behave are mocking the "animal rights bullshit" (direct quote from several different professors), the problem will continue. And I really have no ideas on how this issue can or will be fixed. I guess the old timers must retire before anything can be accomplished. And, like I said, this is not a question. Just some facts that I think everyone should know.
EDIT: I should have stated that I am from the States. I have no idea how things are elsewhere.
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