Animal Welfare Ethics

Animal Welfare Ethics: Is There A Balanced Approach?
Part One: The Question
It is generally considered unethical, even illegal, to practice cruelty towards animals reared as pets. Wantonly killing wildlife is similarly scorned, and yet for some reason consumers turn a blind eye to livestock. It is possible to eat a balanced, healthy, and delicious diet that does not include meat but it is also understandable that many people would prefer a more balanced approach to animal welfare and the ethics of meat consumption. Therefore, the ethical question for this paper is: “Are factory farming conditions unethical, and if so, what would constitute an ethical framework for farming animals?”
Part Two: Introduction
Almost all (99%) of all livestock in the United States is raised in what is known as “factory farming” conditions, described by the ASCPA (2018) as “a large, industrial operation that raises large numbers of animals for food,” (p. 1). While many people take the source of their meat for granted, the conditions of factory farms have been increasingly called into question and not just by radical animal rights activists. Former factory farm employees have been speaking out about the cruel conditions and inhumane practices used in factory farms, conditions that are explicitly in place to boost profits at the expense of animal welfare (Soltaroff, 2013). Likewise, the ASCPA (2018) claims that factory farms “focus on profit and efficiency at the expense of animal welfare,” (p. 1). Yet no matter how many vegans try and shift social norms to get consumers to care more about animals, it seems unlikely that eating meat is going away anytime soon. The purpose of this paper is to question whether there is an ethical balance between veganism on the one hand, and the currently ethically spurious model of factory farming.
Part Three: Position Statement
The conditions in factory farms can be considered inhumane given that any time a sentient being is being harmed or killed, it is experiencing pain. Causing pain to another creature can be considered cruel, particularly if that pain can be avoided simply by avoiding the consumption of animal products. This is the core vegan ethical argument, and yet it is unreasonable to assume that humanity is ready for a complete transformation in the way they live and eat. Therefore, a more reasonable approach to the question of animal rights is how factory farming conditions can be improved, if at all, to reduce suffering.
Part Four: Supporting Reason
The supporting reasons for my claim are as follows:
1. Factory farming conditions are categorically cruel, based on the actual evidence of what takes place within them.
2. It is totally foreseeable and reasonable that all farms be required to reduce the harm and suffering of animals, even if it meant raising the price of meat.
3. If the price of meat were raised, consumers would simply eat less of it. Eating meat on a daily or even weekly basis is totally unnecessary for human nutrition or survival. In fact, eating meat too often can be unhealthy.
Part Five: Opposing Reason
The primary opposing reasons claim that factory farming conditions are not cruel at all. Industry personnel have claimed that there are “guidelines for how animals should be cared for,” (Gollom, 2014, p. 1). Furthermore, it is difficult to determine what type of ethical standards should be in place, given that all farm animals are essentially being raised for their meat and will be killed. In other words, there is no such thing as humane meat eating.


References
ASPCA (2018). Factory farms. https://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/farm-animal-welfare
Gollom. M. (2014). Treatment of farm livestock. CBC News Canada. 16 April, 2014. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/treatment-of-farm-livestock-deciding-what-s-ethical-1.2611359
Hosie, R. (2017). The undercover investigators exposing animal abuse in factory farms. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/animal-abuse-factory-farms-undercover-investigators-pigs-chickens-cows-turkeys-mercy-for-animals-a7501816.html
Soltaroff, P. (2013). In the belly of the beast. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/belly-beast-meat-factory-farms-animal-activists