Learn about Factory Farming

What is Factory Farming
How Factory Farming Hurts Animals

What is Factory Farming?

When you hear the word "farm" what do you think about? Many people still think farms are places where animals have lots of space to move around and can go outside whenever they want. But actually most farms are not like that anymore. For many years now, farmers have been using a new type of farming, which people call "factory farming." You may have heard about factories before. Factories are places where people use machines to put different things together, like cars or toys. Sadly, many farmers now treat animals more like cars or toys than living creatures and are keeping them in factories too!

At factory farms, chickens, pigs and other animals live in buildings or warehouses. Inside each big building, lots of farm animals are crowded together. Just like people who are crowded together on a bus or an elevator, the animals don't like being squished together and become unhappy and sometimes very sick. But factory farmers don't care if the animals feel badly. They think what they are doing is very smart because crowding and keeping animals inside allows them to raise more animals and make more money than other farmers. Factory farmers also save money by using machines instead of workers to look after the animals. Farm animals don't get to see people very often and many become sick or even die without anyone noticing. Many of the animals are also kept in tiny cages, crates or pens and cannot even turn around or lie down without feeling really uncomfortable. Worst of all, animals who live on factory farms never get to do any of things they want to do. They never get to go outside, walk on grass, breathe fresh air, or even feel sun on their faces.

Factory farming may help farmers raise more animals and make more money, but it does NOT help the animals, the earth or even most people! You've already read a little bit about how farm animals suffer on factory farms. But did you know that the buildings they live in also pump out huge amounts of manure and poisonous gases that pollute our land, air and water? (Read more about How Factory Farming Hurts the Environment.) Or that people who eat the products of factory farms (meat, milk and eggs) can also be harmed by the antibiotics, hormones, bacteria, and unhealthy fat they often have in them? (Learn more about How Factory Farming Hurts People.) Sadly, all of these things you are reading are true. There is nothing good about a factory farm. And so it is up to us to let everyone know how much factory farming is hurting our world. We need each and every one of you to help us work toward a better future, so keep on reading to learn more about why it's so important to love animals rather than eat them.

How Factory Farming Hurts Animals

Farm animals are gentle, smart and friendly, just like dogs and cats. And, like all animals, they want to be free of pain, live in a clean place and be treated with kindness. But farm animals, because they are used for their meat, milk and eggs, are often treated very badly. In fact, people can do almost anything to a farm animal without being punished.

Today's farms aren't at all like they used to be. Instead of living outside in the sunshine, most animals are raised on "factory farms" where they are packed into big, dark buildings all the time. Some spend their whole lives in small cages or crates. Hens, for example, don't even have enough room to spread their wings. Calves being raised for veal and mother pigs also live in spaces so narrow they can't even turn around. They are treated like machines instead of like animals with feelings.

Click on each photo to learn more about each species "Living Free" or "On Factory Farms."

	Cows Pigs Chickens Turkeys Sheep Rabbits Ducks

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