primitives discuss aborti--er, pig farms

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=268x4732

Oh my.

BridgeTheGap  (1000+ posts)      Wed Jun-29-11 09:30 AM
Original message
 
Undercover Video Gives the Dirt on Pigs in Factory Farms

You might not want to have a ham sandwich for lunch today.

A new undercover video showing gruesome conditions in which pigs are kept at an Iowa factory farm (emphasis on the “factory”) has hit the web, courtesy of the advocacy group Mercy for Animals (MFA). Representatives of MFA will officially present the graphic footage Wednesday during several press conferences, beginning around 11 am EST. Before you tell yourself this has nothing to do with you, take note: MFA has linked this particular pork producer to four major U.S. food retailers, all of which sell meat raised in that factory farm.

Arguably, the most disturbing aspect of the video — shot by an undercover MFA investigator who was hired as an employee — is that what we see isn't technically illegal under federal or state law. At least some of it is actually considered “standard” in the pork industry.

Meanwhile, Iowa — the nation's top pork-producing state — currently has a bill on the table that would outlaw the production, possession and distribution of videos, pictures, and other “recordings” of farms taken without the owner's consent. Other states also introduced, but didn't pass, similar bills this year. Among them was a New York measure banning farm photography; it was ostensibly related to terrorism concerns.

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/29/undercover-video-gi...

liberalla  (1000+ posts)      Wed Jun-29-11 10:13 AM
Response to Original message

4. "Pigs are very bouncy" ? WTH?

This was filmed at Iowa Select Farms, north of Des Moines.

Kroger and Costco both carry their products.

I knew it would be hard to watch. I don't understand why they kill the baby piglets? (they swing them by their back feet and slam their heads on the concrete floors to crush their skulls.) What's the point? Aren't they raising pigs to slaughter and sell? What cuts of meat come from dead baby pigs? And why is it "ok" or acceptable practice to slice/yank the tails off the babies, while they're alive and conscious? What do they use the tails for?

It all seems so cruel and unnecessary to me. I don't get it at all. I'm stunned.

Kroger has already responded saying they will no longer accept meat from Iowa Select Farms until they see results from a full investigation.

I'm calling Costco today and frequently thereafter regarding the pork products from this horrific Iowa factory "farm"...

[delilahmused]

Well, I confess the video greatly disturbed me too. It made me cry I couldn't watch it all the way, seeing them toss those cute little piglets around. Pigs are intelligent and no animal should not be treated like that. I had a pet pig for a while when I was a girl and it followed me around like a dog.

Cindie

[AllosaursRus]

I have been forced to "euthanize" many animals over the years. Unfortunately, when you deal with the volume of commercial production, you aren't allowed the convenience of one bullet, one kill. I'm sure many of the things I do around here would give PETA a coronary, but such is life in the real world.

ETA: Hell, my Great Gramma, my Nana, and my Mother used to wring the necks of chickens, which I am sure would turn most city folks innards, too! Gimme a break!

[ScubaGuy]

It's late, I've been working most of the day, I'm thinking baby back ribs for dinner.

[delilahmused]

I have been forced to "euthanize" many animals over the years. Unfortunately, when you deal with the volume of commercial production, you aren't allowed the convenience of one bullet, one kill. I'm sure many of the things I do around here would give PETA a coronary, but such is life in the real world.

ETA: Hell, my Great Gramma, my Nana, and my Mother used to wring the necks of chickens, which I am sure would turn most city folks innards, too! Gimme a break!

Intellectually I understand but watching someone throw squealing little piglets across a barn is terrible. I kill chickens too, even rung a few necks though I'd rather shoot them, much more humane. While I fully expect this will get me a volley of bitch-slaps, I'm very careful of the meat I buy. I'd rather spend more to buy meat where I know they were treated humanely. I buy from local farms whenever possible. There's always someone around who raises a couple of pigs and/or cows and is willing to trade eggs or meat birds for steaks, or roasts or something.

Cindie

[AllosaursRus]

Intellectually I understand but watching someone throw squealing little piglets across a barn is terrible. I kill chickens too, even rung a few necks though I'd rather shoot them, much more humane. While I fully expect this will get me a volley of bitch-slaps, I'm very careful of the meat I buy. I'd rather spend more to buy meat where I know they were treated humanely. I buy from local farms whenever possible. There's always someone around who raises a couple of pigs and/or cows and is willing to trade eggs or meat birds for steaks, or roasts or something.

Cindie

I been raisin' my own for years now, but I also come from Kansas, where there are many commercial farms. If ya saw what they do to cows in the slaughterhouse, you'd more than likely feel the same way.

[GOBUCKS]

They were just getting ready to put them in blankets.
There is no food which cannot be improved by adding melted cheese and bacon bits.

[AllosaursRus]

They were just getting ready to put them in blankets.
There is no food which cannot be improved by adding melted cheese and bacon bits.

That and a few Ball Parks would round it out nicely! hehehehehehehe!

[Celtic Rose]

Intellectually I understand but watching someone throw squealing little piglets across a barn is terrible. I kill chickens too, even rung a few necks though I'd rather shoot them, much more humane. While I fully expect this will get me a volley of bitch-slaps, I'm very careful of the meat I buy. I'd rather spend more to buy meat where I know they were treated humanely. I buy from local farms whenever possible. There's always someone around who raises a couple of pigs and/or cows and is willing to trade eggs or meat birds for steaks, or roasts or something.

Cindie

No bitchslap from me, I feel the same way.  I was actually a vegetarian for several years when I was younger, and I still don't eat much meat.  I try to buy meat that has been raised an slaughtered as humanely as possible as well. 

I honestly dislike the thought of any creature being mistreated.  Maybe that makes me a little hippie like, but I'll own it.  I like the taste of meat and I don't know if I would want to be vegetarian again, but videos like this one make me consider it.

[thelaughingman]

It's late, I've been working most of the day, I'm thinking baby back ribs for dinner.

I want my babybackbabybackbabybackbabybackbabybackbabybackbabyback...

[thelaughingman]

Well, I confess the video greatly disturbed me too. It made me cry I couldn't watch it all the way, seeing them toss those cute little piglets around. Pigs are intelligent and no animal should not be treated like that. I had a pet pig for a while when I was a girl and it followed me around like a dog.

Cindie

Pigs are NOT intelligent.  My dad (a former butcher) helped a family friend kill and slaughter a pig on the friend's farm once.  The plan for killing the pig was to shoot it through the brain for a quick and painless death.  I don't know the exact details, but unfortunately, after they coaxed the pig over, the first shot bounced off the pig's skull.  The pig ran away while my dad and the friend considered what to do next.  Before they could take further action, THE PIG CAME BACK.  The second shot didn't miss.  Stupid pig.

[AllosaursRus]

No bitchslap from me, I feel the same way.  I was actually a vegetarian for several years when I was younger, and I still don't eat much meat.  I try to buy meat that has been raised an slaughtered as humanely as possible as well. 

I honestly dislike the thought of any creature being mistreated.  Maybe that makes me a little hippie like, but I'll own it.  I like the taste of meat and I don't know if I would want to be vegetarian again, but videos like this one make me consider it.

I'm amazed Rosie! I always figured you for a carnivore! Kinda expected everyone here to be that way to tell ya truth. Specially with Celtic in yer handle! Heheheh!

No offense! Luv Ya!

[thelaughingman]

Would people be so upset if this were a fish hatchery?

[AllosaursRus]

Would people be so upset if this were a fish hatchery?

Not at all! Did ya see Sarah Palin and Bristol halibut fishin'? Just sayin'...........

[Celtic Rose]

I'm amazed Rosie! I always figured you for a carnivore! Kinda expected everyone here to be that way to tell ya truth. Specially with Celtic in yer handle! Heheheh!

No offense! Luv Ya!

I really like fish and red meat.  I like sausage and bacon, but I eat them infrequently enough that I wouldn't really miss them.  I'll eat chicken and pork, but they aren't my favorite unless they are cooked with something else that has a lot of flavor. 

BTW, welcome back!  The mule "puppy" is adorable. 

[GOBUCKS]

I wonder how the DUmbasses would react if a similar video had been smuggled out of Killer Tiller's partial birth abortion butcher shop?
They weep over a bunch of pigs, and Mike Vick's vicious dogs, but the murder of babies is a democrat sacrament.

[AllosaursRus]

I really like fish and red meat.  I like sausage and bacon, but I eat them infrequently enough that I wouldn't really miss them.  I'll eat chicken and pork, but they aren't my favorite unless they are cooked with something else that has a lot of flavor. 

BTW, welcome back!  The mule "puppy" is adorable. 

He's cuter than a bug's ear, ain't he! He sure made me wait long enough! He was worth every minute though, bless his little heart! Looks like we're gonna call him Caleb, if my granddaughter has anything to say about it!

I wonder how the DUmbasses would react if a similar video had been smuggled out of Killer Tiller's partial birth abortion butcher shop?
They weep over a bunch of pigs, and Mike Vick's vicious dogs, but the murder of babies is a democrat sacrament.

Excellent point, Gobie! Ya s'pose they'll ever see the irony in that little bit of info? I know, I know, I'm delusional! heh!

[thelaughingman]

I wonder how the DUmbasses would react if a similar video had been smuggled out of Killer Tiller's partial birth abortion butcher shop?
They weep over a bunch of pigs, and Mike Vick's vicious dogs, but the murder of babies is a democrat sacrament.

Yep.  Bring a baby 90% of the way out of the birth canal, jab a scissors into the back of her head, scramble her brains, then stick a suction tube into her head to remove the remains of her brain before finally delivering the rest of her head and that's called "a woman's right."  Kill a pig and it's "murder."

[Rebel]

Intellectually I understand but watching someone throw squealing little piglets across a barn is terrible. I kill chickens too, even rung a few necks though I'd rather shoot them, much more humane. While I fully expect this will get me a volley of bitch-slaps, I'm very careful of the meat I buy. I'd rather spend more to buy meat where I know they were treated humanely. I buy from local farms whenever possible. There's always someone around who raises a couple of pigs and/or cows and is willing to trade eggs or meat birds for steaks, or roasts or something.

Cindie

I'm with you.

[JohnnyReb]

I can't watch the video (dailup).There are things that have to be done to increase production and quality that might seem cruel to us but necessay...like kill the runt of a litter. ... about the tails. The pigs will chew each others tails off so the farmer removes the tails to forestall infections and potential deaths caused by that...and you can't be giving antibiotics for 2 or more weeks before slaughter.

[franksolich]

I wonder how the DUmbasses would react if a similar video had been smuggled out of Killer Tiller's partial birth abortion butcher shop?
They weep over a bunch of pigs, and Mike Vick's vicious dogs, but the murder of babies is a democrat sacrament.

Bingo.

[MrsSmith]

I grew up on a farm..."working" pigs, cattle, sheep, whatever, is about the same.  There is no way you're going to be able to anesthetize every animal before minor things like removing tails, removing testicles, branding, putting in ear tags, giving shots, etc.  You just run them through or snatch them up and get it done FAST. They will yell for a couple seconds, run away when you let them go, and be fine a few minutes later.  

Purebred puppies have their dewclaws removed the same way.  If you catch them on the right day, a good pair of toenail clippers will snip them off at the base, and they only bleed a couple drops.  Dogs with docked tails are done about the same way, but at a different age.  One yell, and they're fine.  

Every adult male that has been circumcised went through the same thing, the doctor went snip and that was it.  

I'm not saying it doesn't hurt them, but it certainly doesn't seem to bother them for very long.  There is just no way to compare it to the horror of being ripped apart. Even killing the little piglets that way, it's over instantly for the pig.  Now, if they put the pigs in a shredder, hind end first, it would compare...

[GOBUCKS]

It's so dumb how people anthropomorphize animals. When I was keeping hounds, I did nearly all my own vet work, buying antibiotics and vaccines from a veterinary wholesaler. I never had a helper, so I would give all my injections, s.q. and i.m., while they ate. I never had a dog even blink from a shot, except once when the vaccine was still cold, and I thought I'd killed the dog. He screeched like he was hit by a car for a few seconds, then just went back to eating. The nerves in their skin are very different from humans.

[blitzkrieg_17]

I never buy Costco meat anyway, especially their pork, because it sucks.

[MrsSmith]

It's so dumb how people anthropomorphize animals. When I was keeping hounds, I did nearly all my own vet work, buying antibiotics and vaccines from a veterinary wholesaler. I never had a helper, so I would give all my injections, s.q. and i.m., while they ate. I never had a dog even blink from a shot, except once when the vaccine was still cold, and I thought I'd killed the dog. He screeched like he was hit by a car for a few seconds, then just went back to eating. The nerves in their skin are very different from humans.

When you "work" little pigs, they squeal just about as loud from being grabbed and held as from anything you do to them, and seemingly completely forget whatever it was 2 minutes later.  After all, these are the same creatures that would have no clue that there is an issue with them eating something that is alive and yelling.  Pigs will eat a child alive, given the chance.  There is a reason that gentle treatment of animals is called "humane," and that reason is that only humans know empathy.  A hungry animal could care less if it's eating away at something not dead and in agony, it just goes right ahead and eats.  In fact, if a mother pig, or dog for that matter, decides to get rid of some offspring, they tend to eat them from the hind feet up...and I've found enough of them 1/2 gone to know this for a fact.  I've never found the hind end of a piglet or pup, but have certainly found the front end many times.