The first public slaughterhouse appeared in France at the beginning of the nineteenth century. However, we have been killing and eating animals for over 2.6 million years. Advancements in the American railroad system between the 1870s and the 1930s aided the meat industry's lightning growth.
Our nation eats a lot of pork, chicken, beef, and dairy products. We have over 2,785 slaughterhouses throughout America. Throughout the past few years, many people have questioned how humane the ways people butcher our animals are. Slaughterhouses have been changing their practices to make sure the animals don’t suffer.
Slaughterhouses do many different methods to butcher animals. One of the many ways they butcher pigs is by using CO2 gas on them. Carbon dioxide gas is used to induce unconsciousness. As the animal inhales the carbon dioxide gas, its blood oxygen level decreases resulting in a loss of brain function. People can tell when animals haven’t been knocked out since they might move around and/or blink. However, you don’t want to confuse this with postmortem spasms. Sometimes after animals are butchered their muscles can still move due to the memory that muscle has. Slaughterhouses also know the method they use is humane because the federal government does humane audits to make sure animals are treated the best way possible. In the audits, the people teach the butchers how to properly butcher animals and how to handle them.
One of the biggest myths about slaughterhouses is that the animals cry before they are butchered. When people say animals cry they mean the animal is making loud, high-pitched wailing sounds. However, they only make those sounds when they are scared or grieving. Due to those facts, animals are perfectly fine before being slaughtered if handled humanely.
I believe that slaughterhouses try to butcher animals as humanely as possible and only want the best for their livestock. We nourish our animals when they are alive and after their life, they provide nourishment for us. I raise pigs and every year we bring the barrows to the locker. We always ask how they put the animals to sleep to ensure they are taken care of humanely. I have gone to many lockers around the area and my favorite is Kitt’s locker in Dedham, Iowa.
Do you think slaughterhouses are humane? And why?
Do you think there are better ways to butcher animals?
Have you ever taken an animal to a slaughterhouse?
Sources:
https://modernfarmer.com/2013/04/this-is-what-humane-slaughter-looks-like-is-it-good-enough/
http://www.voogdconsulting.com/animalwelfare.html
https://petkeen.com/do-cows-cry-tears/
Replies
I agree with you that they try and put the animal out right away so they don't feel any pain. Humans need that protein in their lives and without meat, it would be hard to accomplish.
I think that we need them and no they aren't humane. But are you really going to close all meat production because they care more about the lives of animals than the production of meat? The reason a lot of animals like cows and pigs are born is to be killed, unfortunately.
I agree that most hogs raised today are going to be made into meat. However, when pigs reach that 300-pound mark it makes it harder for them to move and butchering them it would almost take that pain away.
Yes I believe that slaughterhouses are humane. They are made to be as humane as possible. I think that this is the most humane way to harvest an animal. I don't think that there is any way that we can make them better. I don't think that we could get rid of them because they are a main source of food.
I agree that getting rid of slaughterhouses would be getting rid of our main source of food.
These places are very time efficient, but overall effective because they get more out of the animals than a regular person would but are also very sanitary and clean. Slaughterhouses are one of the biggest producers of the world's food supply today are many people relay on them.
I agree that slaughterhouses are very sanitary and clean because they make sure no bacteria is passed around.
I don't think slaughterhouses are humane. The slaughterhouses don't care about the animal, all they care about is money. I have cows and once the calfs are grown we sell them, there is about a 50-50 chance they get sold to the slaughterhouse.
I agree that slaughterhouses do bring in a lot of money; however, if they don't treat there animals right the government will step in and shut them down. After butchering there is a lot of signs that the animal has been mistreated.
I think slaughterhouses are humane. People do their best to do it humanely. What good are livestock if we do not eat them? I understand some people may think that animals are innocent, but they serve no purpose otherwise. For example, pigs are mean and have no reason unless they are being eaten.
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