Consequences of Factory Farms Annotated Bibliography Armstrong,

Consequences of Factory Farms Annotated Bibliography Armstrong, S.J. & Botzler, R. (Eds.). (2003). The Animal Ethics Reader. New York, NY: Routledge. This anthology that has a comprehensive review of the factory farming debate. The book is also especially useful to me given its consideration of both sides of the debate. For instance, some contributors present and effectively counter some of the arguments that have been presented by those in support of factory farming.

In this case, the contributors who include but are not limited to Mary Madgley and Peter Singer are leading luminaries in this particular field. I found the introduction offered by the editors before each chapter particularly useful in helping one digest the contents of the chapter. DeGrazia, D. (2002). Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Like Armstrong, DeGrazia also examines one of the most consistent arguments that has been presented in support of factory farming -- its economic relevance.

According to the author, the architects of this argument are of the opinion that "the continuation of factory farming is economically necessary." As the author further points out, those in support of this argument reason that in addition to occasioning the loss of numerous jobs, ending factory farming could also impact negatively on agribusiness owners. DeGrazia however counters this argument successfully. Like Armstrong's anthology, this book will be of particular benefit to me when it comes to examining the various dissenting views. Pollan, M. (2007).

The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Search for a Perfect Meal in a Fast-Food World. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing. In this amazing book, Pollan gives us a reason to seriously think about what we consume as food. In one instance, the author recounts of an interesting discovery he made after electing to trace a number of food items back to the farms they came from.

In his own words, Pollan learnt that some milk (organic) came from factory farms hosting large numbers of "Holsteins confined to a fenced 'dry lot,' eating (certified organic) grain and tethered to milking machines three times a day." As the author further points out, it is under such confinement that these Holsteins spend their days without ever encountering "a blade of grass." This inevitably has some moral, health and environmental implications.

Pollan's book will come in handy as I seek to present the harmful and unsustainable nature of factory farming. The author has in the past written a number of other popular books on food and agriculture. Seitz, J.L. & Hite, K.A. (2011). Global Issues: An Introduction (4th ed.). Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons. This is one of the books that successfully offer a comprehensive look at the most urgent global issues facing us today.

In addition to factory farming, Seitz and Hite examine several other global concerns affecting us on the social, political as well as economic arena. On factory farms, the authors in brief offer a candid "look at factory farms and the anticipated consequences that have come with the adoption of factory techniques to produce animals for human consumption." Seitz and Hite are respected academics and professionals in their diverse fields with both offering their services as instructors at Wofford College and at the School of Advanced International Studies respectively. Weber, K.