Dear Future President,

Factory farming is a very large issue in America. The slaughterhouse workers treat livestock in a way that I could never imagine. Livestock animals are thrown, kicked and decapitated in these facilities. Not only are these livestock animals being abused, but factory farming is also harmful to humans. Factory farming should have laws to stop overcrowding and using growth hormones. If slaughterhouse workers are found illegally treating livestock, they should be severely punished.

Many livestock animals such as cows, chickens, turkeys, pigs, etc., are treated inhumanely and are shoved into tight cages where they have no open space to live their life. The cramped cages are overcrowded and they can’t partake in their natural behaviors. Livestock animals are thrown, by the thousands, into filthy, windowless sheds and shoved into wire cages, metal crates, and other torturous devices. When chickens or turkeys are ready to be slaughtered for food, the slaughterhouse workers cut off the animals’ heads or rip off their heads with their bare hands. Livestock are forced to live in their own feces and live around deceased animals. They are crammed into cages or pens to the point where they can barely even move around.

Factory farming puts the human population at risk of chronic disease, obesity, and bacteria. Poor sanitation and animal waste can lead to the contamination of food like e. coli and salmonella. To combat unsanitary conditions, animals are fed large doses of antibiotics, but the bacteria is constantly adapting to the conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meat consumed from factory farms is the main source of saturated fat in the American diet. Studies have shown that unnatural feed used for growth in animals on factory farms increases the saturated fat content in meat. Saturated fat can lead to heart disease and obesity.

The animals are genetically mutated to make them grow so large so fast. These antibiotics are used to keep them alive in these harsh conditions. Since the 1950s, antibiotics have been used on factory farms to increase the rate of growth in livestock. Sometimes chickens grow so large that they become crippled and can't walk anymore, which means they will suffer from dehydration and starvation. Cows producing dairy can be given growth hormones in order to increase their dairy production. Six growth hormones, commonly used by the U.S. dairy industry have shown significant increase in the risk of certain types of cancer (Farm Sanctuary). These growth hormones usually contain antibiotics to counteract the harsh conditions of factory farms. This is unhealthy and inhumane and gets passed on to human consumption.

These upsetting reasons show that factory farming is inhumane and just wrong. Factory farming is a large issue that needs to be solved as soon as possible. If farms are found to be operating in this manner, there should be extreme consequences if they don’t shut down immediately. These farms should let their animals roam free and be able to live the life they deserve. Please take my thoughts into consideration and make laws to stop these slaughterhouses.

Sincerely,

Kendall 7th Grade Student