Omnivore's Dilemma Research Paper

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Factory Farming, Morality, And Vegetarianism

Among the shocking facts linked to the issue of factory farming -- in addition to the appalling practice of cattle jammed into feed lots "…shoulder to shoulder knee deep in their own excrement" -- is that every second of every day an estimated 650 animals are slaughtered (Henning, 2011). Moreover, Henning reports that more than 56 billion animals are slaughtered annually and while this global blood-letting provides food for the meaty tastes of millions of people, in the process the "…overconsumption of animal meat" is the number one cause of "…both malnourishment and obesity… and the spread of infectious disease" (64). This paper delves into the moral morass of today's factory farming strategies and points to the many reasons why factory-produced meat is unhealthy, and why it is ethical and honorable to abstain from consuming animal meat and to eat nutritious vegetarian foods instead.

Thesis

The unconscionably cruel and inhumane conditions on today's factory farms must be condemned by society; in time these farms must be eliminated and the public must be educated as to the moral value and nutritional benefits from vegetarianism.

Problem I

Notwithstanding that the mass production of meat in factory farms creates cheap red meat and feeds millions of people, slaughtering billions of animals after raising them in horrifying and sickening condition is immoral, unhealthy, and unacceptable.

Author Michael Pollan's book The Omnivore's Dilemma refers to the horrifying reality of factory farms as "Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations" (CAFO).

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And while he admits that there is "economic logic" for the corporations that raise and slaughter cows, pigs, and chickens in these frightening conditions, the "biological logic" behind the process is "not so compelling" because the CAFOs produce "…polluted water and air, toxic wastes, novel and deadly pathogens" (Pollan, 2006, 67). In addition, Pollan makes a point of showing that meat eaten from corn-fed cows is "…demonstrably less healthy for us" than meat from cows that were fed on grasses. A substantial amount of empirical research uncovered by Pollan shows that corn-fed beef contains less Omega-3 fatty acids and far more saturated fat, and saturated fat is known to clog arteries and cause heart problems.

Moreover, because corn is cheap, and it fattens up the cows quickly, it is the main staple of CAFO-raised cows. However, Pollan calls the mass feeding of corn a "biological absurdity" because historically animals have adopted by natural selection to the habit of eating grasses; but today they are fed corn "…for no other reason than it offers the cheapest calories around…" (68). Corn is one of the culprits in this CAFO drama and is employed at "considerable cost" to the health of the animal, "…to the health of the land and ultimately to the health of their eaters" (Pollan, 68).

On page 66 of his scholarly paper Henning notes the irony in the fact that….....

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