This is the second article in our series on what influences food choices. In September we addressed sustainability. This month we are going to tackle animal welfare issues, specifically confinement.

Cage-free and free-range are marketing terms some consider when making purchases of meat, dairy, and eggs. In fact, several companies make these production methods primary selling points as some believe animals should not be confined to cages or buildings. Images of chickens in cages, sows in farrowing stalls, or dairy cattle with their heads in feeding bunks are also used in advertisements encouraging consumers to say NO to “factory farms” and instead support local, small farms that allow their animals to roam. Those of us in agriculture know, despite the messaging, that such practices may not be selected as a matter of size or location but what works best for each individual operation with the animals’ welfare in mind.  

Best Food Facts, a program of The Center for Food Integrity, asked Dr. Amy Schmidt, Assistant Professor & Livestock Bioenvironmental Engineer at the University of Nebraska, to explain that large-scale and small-scale systems each have their own distinct advantages and disadvantages and no single system is perfect.

“We really need to get away from the idea of pitting ‘factory farmers’ against ‘family farmers’ because a family that builds a profitable farming business to support multiple generations is eventually going to be labeled a ‘factory farm’ just because of their size,” said Schmidt. “Every aspect of our economy grows based on scales of production. We don’t all have a desire to raise our own food. But, thankfully, there are people who enjoy this and because they are able to scale their operation up to produce more food in a way that is profitable, we all benefit from that. And according to the American Farm Bureau, 97% of farms are family owned!

“Regardless of the size of the operation, confining animals inside a facility or in a feedlot situation has the advantage of allowing the animals’ caretaker(s) to closely monitor animal health and well-being. There is a misconception that animals housed in buildings have no human interaction and that feed is delivered by ‘pushing a button.’ While it is true that feed is delivered automatically via mechanical conveyance, it is untrue that animal caretakers rarely enter the facilities to monitor the health and well-being of their animals. Animals are monitored by caretakers multiple times per day, ill or at-risk animals are moved to ‘hospital’ pens for up-close monitoring and treatment, and aggressive animals are separated to prevent injury to other animals and the human caregivers. These are all benefits of livestock housing systems or feedlots for cattle.

While free-range or pastured livestock production is certainly an acceptable practice, it does have some disadvantages. One distinct disadvantage of pasture livestock is that animals may be poorly protected from heat, cold, and other inclement weather. Swine, poultry, and dairy animals raised inside structures enjoy a regulated environment free from bitter cold, extreme heat, sunburn, predatory animals, and other hazards – as well as some soil-borne diseases.

Some may argue that disease is more prevalent in confined animal systems than ‘free-range’ or ‘pastured’ systems. A concern with pastured pigs, in particular, is the potential for exposure to parasites and microorganisms that confined pigs are protected from. For instance, the incidence of trichinosis in pigs has seen a significant decline in the past few decades as swine production has moved indoors. However, with the increased popularity of pastured swine production in recent years, sporadic cases of trichinosis have been reported due to these animals being exposed to wild reservoir hosts. Is this a reason to stop producing pigs on pastures? Not necessarily, since proper preparation of pork during cooking is key to preventing human illness from this parasite. But it is clear that each system has its distinct advantages and disadvantages, and no single system is perfect.”

Dr. Schmidt was further asked if housing animals resulted in animal abuse?

“Abuse is a terrible thing; whether it’s abuse of a helpless animal or a helpless person, it’s simply unacceptable. Just as the vast majority of people don’t abuse their children or spouses, the majority of livestock producers don’t abuse their animals. We need to realize that there are people in all facets of society that don’t fit the social norm; people who do things that mainstream society finds completely unacceptable. I feel like it is very inappropriate to suggest that confining animals leads to animal abuse. Just as providing proper care and nutrition to plants helps them grow and produce to their greatest potential, proper care and nutrition of animals produces the most profitable and highest quality product. Therefore, it is in the best interest of all agricultural producers – livestock or crop, confinement or pasture-based – to provide the highest quality care possible to maximize the productivity and profitability of their operation. Livestock producers quickly disapprove of acts of abuse by other livestock producers; it is a matter of right and wrong, and the acts of a select few are not relevant to an entire industry.”

Dr. Schmidt continued to answer questions about confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and environmental impacts. You can read the entire article here - https://www.bestfoodfacts.org/cafo-factory-farms/

An additional point to mention is regarding the care of beef cattle in the winter. Many Kentucky farmers are using a compost bedded pack barn throughout the winter months, rather than keeping their cattle out in the wet winter weather. According to an article that appeared in the Kentucky Farm Bureau Magazine, this practice has led to dryer feeding conditions, less water/waste run-off, easier working conditions, and happier cows. The article can be found here - https://www.kyfb.com/federation/newsroom/staying-out-of-the-weather-compost-bedded-pack-barns-could-eliminate-some-wintertime-hassles/.