[LookOutSugarLake] Factory farms

[handr at telus.net]

Hi all,

As you know I am very opposed to factory farms. Based on past  
conversations, I thought it might be worthwhile to clarify what a  
factory farm is. Here is a definition that seems to be accepted  
around the world. What is a factory farm and what are the problems  
associated with them?

A factory farm consists of hundreds to thousands of animals (mainly  
cows, pigs, chickens or turkeys) confined tightly together and  
provided little or no access to sunlight, fresh air or room for  
natural movement. Some facilities produce millions of animals yearly.

	Public health problems, including the overuse of antibiotics and  
food borne illness.

	Liquid waste systems and "lagoons" to store raw manure.

	Buildings that confine animals indoors and control their environment.

	Mutilation of animals such as debeaking poultry, clipping pigs'  
tails and teeth, and docking cows' tails.

	The corporation that owns or controls the factory farm also owns the  
feed company, slaughterhouse, and final stages of production  
(referred to as vertical integration).

	Through contract growing, a remote corporation controls all aspects  
of raising the animals. The livestock owner does not manage the day- 
to-day operations of the facility. The farmer is left with the risk,  
debt payments on barns and facilities, waste, and dead animal disposal.

	A decrease in neighboring property values because of odor and water  
pollution.

http://www.factoryfarm.com/whatis/1.php

Also see:

http://www.wsn.org/factoryfarm/factfarmfactsheet.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factory_farming

According to this definition what is being built on Mabel Lake and  
what exists in Armstrong are factory farms.

Huguette
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