Thread: Putting Meat on The Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production

Putting Meat on The Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America

A Report of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production

(A 2-1/2 year study released April 29, 200


"The current industrial farm animal production (IFAP) system often poses unacceptable risks to public health, the environment and the welfare of the animals themselves"

"Commissioners have determined that the negative effects of the IFAP system are too great and the scientific evidence is too strong to ignore. Significant changes must be implemented and must start now. And while some areas of animal agriculture have recognized these threats and have taken action, it is clear that the industry has a long way to go."


Executive Summary

*Read entire report at: http://www.ncifap.org/_images/PCIFAPFin.pdf


The Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production was established through a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts to The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to recommend solutions to the problems created by concentrated animal feeding operations in four primary areas: public health, the environment, animal welfare, and rural communities. The Commission heard approximately 54 hours of testimony from stakeholders and experts, received technical reports from academics from institutions across the country, and visited operations in Iowa, California, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Colorado, to gather information on each of the subject areas. In addition, each of the Commissioners brought his or her own unique experiences and expertise to bear during Commission deliberations.

Over the past 50 years, the production of farm animals for food has shifted from the traditional, extensive, decentralized family farm system to a more concentrated system with fewer producers, in which large numbers of animals are confined in enormous operations. While we are raising approximately the same number of swine as we did in 1950, for example, we are doing so on significantly fewer, far larger farms, with dramatically fewer farm workers. This production model—sometimes called industrial farm animal production—is characterized by confining large numbers of animals of the same species in relatively small areas, generally in enclosed facilities that restrict movement. In many cases, the waste produced by the animals is eliminated through liquid systems and stored in open pit lagoons.

The ifap system, as it exists today, too often concentrates economic power
in the hands of the large companies that process and sell the animal products, instead of the individuals who raise the animals. In many cases, the “open marketâ€

Workers in and neighbors of ifap facilities experience high levels of respiratory problems

The toxic gases and organic dusts associated with ifap facilities have the potential to produce upper respiratory irritation in confinement facility workers.

The emissions from confinement facilities, however, may affect communities proximate to those facilities, as well as populations far away from these operations. In particular, the elderly, those with compromised respiratory systems or chronic conditions that limit their mobility, and children are at most risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Hmmmm.....

Now we know why the government is giving out money to the swine odors.

Trying to cut back on eating meat. At breakfast have grains and fruits even an apple pie is cutting back on the production of meat.

Interesting isn't it

One of my famly members raised turkeys (10,000 per cycle) and I remember they were considered unfit to eat until they were put on marketer feed 3 wks before they were slaughtered.

I also remember thinking maybe the hormones they gave the turkeys to make them grow fast could be part of the reason so many people are over weight.

I never ever eat turkeys or chickens unless they are free range with NO antibiotics or hormones used in their feed.Same goes for cows milk.

USPatriot You are totally right. I cannot stand the double talking about fat people in our America. I total believe hormones are causing many health problems for our people in America. And our government is not blameless on this issue.