From what I have observed (and know to be true in myself), farmers are often less attached to animals in general than others who own animals. Pet owners often see their dogs, cats, etc. as a part of the family. Farm kids grow up surrounded by animals, but they learn early not to get too attached to those animals because they will die. Cattle, pigs and chickens are butchered for meat; kittens get killed by foxes, coyotes, or the farm dogs; and the farm dogs get run over or killed by coyotes or other predators. You may tell me that death is a part of life and that we should not hold back from loving people and animals because of that. Well, you try eating your beloved pet steer for supper. Besides that, animals on the farm have a purpose. Livestock produce food and fibre products, dogs keep predators away and help move the cattle, and cats keep rodents to a minimum. I personally can't understand house pets. Why would I spend a whole bunch of money to keep a cat, dog, fish, etc. alive if I'm not going to get anything out of it? And no, I don't think companionship is adequate reimbursement when the animal can't even talk to me.
I know a lot of farmers who feel the same way as I do. We would never cause an animal harm or distress, but we also refuse to own an animal that is useless to us. Of course, we all have our soft spots. My dad has rescued several kittens from the side of the road over the years. We fight to save every calf that turns up with a broken leg from being stepped on or laid on by an inattentive cow. I'll even admit that I cried a bit when my first dog was killed by coyotes a few years ago. Farmers do their best to treat their animals right, but we just don't have the emotional energy to get attached to every one of them. No one does. So we put up a harsh front, which makes us seem uncaring at times, even though we will do all we can to save an animal and make sure it is well-cared for. The vast majority of farmers take good care of their livestock. Unfortunately, there will always be a few irresponsible, even cruel, people who make us all look bad.
Many of us have seen at least one horrifying video of animal abuse on the farm, whether it has popped up on a social media site, or been played on a local news stations. I despise every aspect of those videos. I am sickened by the farm workers who could treat the animals in such a fashion. I am disgusted by the person taking the video for standing by and doing nothing to stop the abuse. I am frustrated to the point of wanting to shut my eyes and ears to the entire thing by the uninformed masses who comment and protest and demand that the agriculture industry change when they see just a tiny percentage of what goes on. Yes, the incident is horrible and clearly something needs to be done on that farm, but that doesn't mean an entire industry needs to change!
We are getting to the point where industry standards are being shaped by consumer demands, even when those new standards fly in the face of what science and experience tell us is best for the animals and the environment. I willingly admit that there are a few issues that need to be addressed in the livestock sector of the agriculture industry. The good news is that these issues are, for the most part, being addressed. We are learning new animal handling techniques, investing in low-stress handling systems and methods of dealing with various issues our livestock may have. Research is showing us what works best for our animals and what they need in terms of physical needs, as well as social and behavioural needs. Each passing year brings new discoveries regarding what animals need and how they behave and thrive and the agriculture industry is trying to keep up. Give us a little credit and a little time and we will get caught up once we figure out the best way to provide what our animals need without breaking the bank. If it's too expensive for us to raise animals humanely, we will either neglect or abuse them, or we will sell out to someone who will ignore what is best for the animals. Give us time to adjust economically and we will do what is best for the animals.
If you take just one thing away from this blog, let it be this: Farmers do nothing without a reason. We are incredibly busy and work in a high-risk, low-pay industry. If we do anything, it is to increase the productivity of our animals. Research is now showing us what many of us have learned from experience: animals are more productive when all of their needs are met and they are happy. So when we do things for the purpose of making our animals more productive, we are doing what is good for our livestock.
Before I end this post, I'd like to answer a few questions I couldn't figure out to answer in the main part of the post:
- Some folks aren't comfortable with how farmers "put animals out of their suffering". How would you answer those who compare putting down an animal to euthanasia for humans?
- What I am about to say are my own personal beliefs and should not be attributed to anyone else. I am not in favour of euthanasia for humans under any circumstances. However, I will not allow an animal to suffer. If I (or the vet) can't reasonably prevent the suffering, I will have the animal put down. I believe that humans were put on earth to serve God. Suffering cannot stop us from doing that. Indeed, suffering can help us to grow closer to God. I can justify suffering to a human (and yes, I have had to justify my own suffering to myself). I cannot justify suffering to an animal. An animal cannot grow from suffering. Animals who suffer in the wild are killed by predators and thereby released from their suffering. We do so much to protect animals from predators that we keep them alive beyond what nature would allow that we have lost sight of how much suffering might be too much.
- If someone suspects there is a case of animal abuse occurring at a farm, what can they do?
- The best thing to do is to notify the authorities. Don't try to deal with it yourself. A farmer won't take you seriously if he thinks you are just a busy body who doesn't know what you are talking about. In Alberta you can call the Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) or Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) to report neglect or abuse. You can find the websites for these organisations in the resources below.
- What exactly are the needs that an animal should have met?
- Alberta Farm Animal Care identifies "Five Freedoms" that should be met for animals. They are:
- Freedom from Hunger and Thirst
- Freedom from Discomfort
- Freedom from Pain, Injury and Disease
- Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour
- Freedom from Fear and Distress
You may look at this and see the cow locked up, unable to move while the farmer stands by and watches. I look at this and see my dad resting after a struggle to get a very hungry calf to suck without its mother walking away or trying to kill my dad for getting close.
Resources:
- Alberta SPCA - contact this organisation if you suspect neglect or abuse of animals
- Alberta Farm Animal Care - this organisation works with farmers to improve animal welfare on the farm level
- Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Livestock - the National Farm Animal Care Council sets out recommendations and requirements for the care and handling of various types of livestock
- Animal Use Spectrum - this is a great graphic to help one understand the various philosophies that guide how people view animals
- Articles Concerning Animal Welfare from the Western Producer:
- Animal welfare improving by 'light years'
- Does 'cage-free' really lead to better animal welfare?
- Supply management and animal welfare
- Animal welfare added to quality assurance
- Fragile contents: handle with care
- Student seeks producers for animal welfare research
- Feedlots adjusting to new animal-care program
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