Humans sit at the top of the food chain both literally and theoretically. In the current age, individuals can consume anything in any quantity. Such easy availability of food has made people oblivious to what really happens behind closed doors within the food industry. For a long time now barbaric practices have become the norm so as to satisfy the need for easy processed food. Whereas it is very difficult to pinpoint unscrupulous practices during plant cultivation, treatment of animals reared for meat and other products have caught the eye of many activist groups. Examples include the cutting of egg-laying chicken’s beaks, confinement of piglets inbox and many other savagery acts (Croney & Millman, 2007). This begs the question; is it morally right to carry out practices that entail animal cruelty for the purpose of stable food production?
From my perspective, I believe such practices are highly unethical and deserve to be ended promptly. To support my reasoning, it is commonly accepted that it is morally wrong to cause intentional suffering to other individuals. Philosophers and lawmakers alike have argued and defended this particular notion. However, it is imperative that we ask ourselves does this privilege only relate to humans? Can humans consciously and willingly hurt other lesser beings just because they can? In truth, food and subsequently meat is a necessity for most individuals and thereby cannot be ultimately ignored. Nonetheless, to what extent can this need be used to justify vile actions to other animals? Farm animals have been showcased to possess nerve endings thereby concluding they feel pain. Moreover, Croney and Millman articulate that different studies have also highlighted that farm animals are prone to mental stress when placed under undesirable conditions (2007). Thus I believe that if we are so active when it comes to defending human rights then we should not be hypocritical when it comes to acknowledging animal suffering within the food industry.
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On the other hand, there are reasonable yet flawed arguments that indirectly support animal cruelty during food production. It is often implicated that animal suffering is a necessary evil to curb the insatiable demand for meat and other animal products. In truth, America has over 300 million people majority of who consume meat and other animal farm products on a daily basis. To increase production and thereby satisfy the ever-increasing demand farmers have sought to nonconventional methods. For example, to increase production per unit space cows and pigs are often congested into tiny compartments (Vanhonacker, Verbeke, Van Poucke & Tuyttens, 2007). As mentioned earlier animals reared in such conditions are often stressed as a consequence of all that suffering. Economically it may seem worth it to carry out such practices, however, ethically it is a different question altogether. Nevertheless, individuals with such perspectives fail to acknowledge that there are other alternatives to achieve the same output albeit more expensive. Therefore, it is morally wrong for producers to practice activities that encourage animal suffering so as to increase profit and/or lower production costs.
In conclusion, animal suffering occurs more frequently in the food industry in America that it is often acknowledged. There are varying ethical arguments regarding the existence and justifications of such practices. Whereas some individuals and activist groups openly criticize and challenge producers others see such practices as a necessary evil towards attaining stable food production. From my perspective, animal cruelty should not be acceptable regardless of whatever reason as it encourages the notion that humans can consciously cause the suffering of other beings.
References
Croney, C. C., & Millman, S. T. (2007). Board-invited review: The ethical and behavioral bases for farm animal welfare legislation. Journal of animal science , 85 (2), 556-565.
Vanhonacker, F., Verbeke, W., Van Poucke, E., & Tuyttens, F. (2007). Segmentation based on consumers’ perceived importance and attitude toward farm animal welfare. International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food , 15 (3), 91-107.
