Take a look at this defense of gestation crates:
“The pork industry has been in the sights of the Humane Society of the United States for what the animal protection organization says is cruel and abusive practices of pigs housed in gestation crates, or pens that are slightly larger than the pigs themselves.
More than 30 national food companies have also jumped on the HSUS’ bandwagon, pledging not to purchase pork from producers using the crates.
In late September alone, Bruegger’s Bagels, Dunkin’ Donuts, ConAgra Foods and Brinker International, a food company that runs restaurants like Chili’s, have announced they would no longer serve pork produced in gestation crates — as much as one-fifth of the total amount of pork purchases, the New York Times reported last week.
But local pork producers are defending the practice, saying that gestation crates improve the quality of life for some pigs while at the same time guaranteeing their health and a cheaper product.
Nebraska Pork Producers President Shane Meyer, who runs the Plymouth Ag Group approximately five miles southwest of Beatrice, said gestation crates make for healthier pigs.
“I’ve been raising pigs my whole life, I’ve raised pigs on dirt in dirt lots and dirt pens, I’ve raised animals inside pens and inside stalls,” Meyer said, “I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and I think there is a reason we put them in the stalls.”
“Basically, you keep the animals from fighting.”
Keep reading here.
By the way, here are some of the companies that have caved to HSUS’s radical agenda: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Sysco, ARAMARK, Sodexo, Costco, Kroger, Safeway, ConAgra Foods, Oscar Mayer, and Hillshire Brands.
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
