Consumers are increasingly interested in buying humanely raised meat due to ethical, environmental, and taste reasons. Humanely raised meat is raised in better conditions, with an emphasis on preventive care for the animals and the environment, and is generally better for the environment.
With a growing awareness of where their food comes from, many consumers are encouraged to buy humanely raised meat and other animal products. Since humanely raised meat is more expensive than conventional meat, some people quite reasonably ask why they would want to buy the more expensive product. There are a number of reasons for choosing humans over traditional animal products, ranging from ethics to ecologism. Educating yourself about humanely raised meat will help you make a more informed decision at the grocery store.
Before we delve into the reasons for choosing humanely raised meat, it helps to take a quick look at the two basic styles of animal husbandry that prevail in many industrialized nations. The first is ‘traditional’ agriculture, which is sometimes better known as ‘industrial agriculture’. In a factory farming situation, animals often endure brutal and cramped conditions and are treated as commodities rather than individuals. Often abusive situations such as those found in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) are not only harmful to the animals; they are bad for the environment. Restricted conditions breed serious disease, and CAFOs are often unable to cope with the volume of animal waste generated, which can lead to serious pollution problems.
On a human farm, the approach to animal husbandry is different. Typically, though not always, the animals are raised in more spacious conditions, with an emphasis on preventive care for the animals and the environment. On some human farms, animals rotate across the fields with other animal species and plants, in hopes of creating a healthier farming environment. The animals are allowed to mature at their own pace and are treated gently throughout their life and slaughtering process. Some organizations offer meat certifications such as the Free Farmed certification to companies that practice humane farming techniques.
One of the most obvious reasons to choose humanely raised meat is, of course, ethical. Many meat eaters would prefer to eat meat that has been raised in pleasant conditions, because animals are sentient living organisms. Some animals, such as pigs, have also demonstrated some self-awareness, which makes the thought of existing in the miserable conditions of a CAFO very unpalatable.
Another often cited reason is the desire to purchase locally raised meat. For people who are interested in meeting their meat producers, Humanely Raised Meat is a conduit to meet farmers and see conditions on a farm for themselves. Locally harvested foods also tend to be generally better for the environment, as they involve fewer food miles. It also benefits local economies by keeping spending local.
Some people also believe that humanely raised meat tastes better. This may be due to more balanced conditions, which include a large and varied diet together with the ability to play and exercise. Factory-raised meat tends to taste dull and uniform, as the animals are fed very unhealthy diets and prevent them from living normal lives. While it may be a cliché to say consumers can “taste freedom,” they can feel the impact an animal’s diet has on its meat.
Finally, humanely raised meat is generally better for the environment. Since humanely raised meat tends to be raised on small farms, the focus is on caring for the environment that CAFOs don’t. Because a much smaller number of animals are being handled, the farmer can process the manure properly, keep the soil in good condition, and take the time to rotate animals and crops for healthy soil. A CAFO, on the other hand, cannot afford these measures, because thousands of animals are cramped into a small space, generating thousands of tons of waste. These waste products end up in the air, soil and water, causing serious environmental problems.
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