Probably the issues on "animal cruelty" are for a different forum.
I will say that in nature, the majority of males in herds get killed or driven off, mostly by other males. No chicken farmer can keep the all the males, because they kill each other. Traditionally in farming, the young males are dinner, while the ewes and cows and hens provide wool, milk, and eggs. Soft-hearted first-time farmers like me try to keep the males, and if you want to see animal cruelty, watch them attack each other! So any animal product you eat has the same issue: farmers can't keep the males.
Even so, the survivor rate of farm animals is much higher than it is in the wild, where most young never make adulthood at all, and the average lifespan is shorter. A well-run farm is a good place, with happy animals, even if the animals are corralled. Heifer International has done great things for helping ensure the food supply of rural peoples, by training people in how to keep animals. They are a great source of fertilizer.
There are people who believe no animals should die, ever. That is a philosophical decision. However, if you get TOO much into this, you have to take into account the millions of acres of land that are destroyed to grow soybeans and wheat, which not only destroy the land, but also the runoff destroys thousands of acres of sea life. Soybean fields are one of the biggest causes of destruction of rainforests.
Also, since humans (often by farming) have sent many wild species to distinction, keep in mind that the domesticated animals are the ones that still EXIST. From a survivor point of view, cows, chickens, goats and pigs are thriving, while their wild cousins are not.
Anyway, I'm all for investigating the sources of YOUR food, and buying locally. Right now at our market, there is a huge variety of brands available, and loads of local small growers too. The local farms I've seen are very good places, and the bigger ones are nothing like what floats around on YouTube.
On Sun, Oct 28, 2012 at 2:29 PM, aussiepomgirl <galeenglish75@gmail.com> wrote:
Before you start to feel too good about eating your 'poor quality eggs', spare a thought for the poor chickens, both the baby male chicks who are 'discarded' and the hens who spend their lives in cages so that you may have your daily eggs.
Take a look at the youtube clip below if you are in doubt as to whether you should 'feel good' about consuming cage-produced eggs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM6V6lq_p0o
And before you decide that free-range is okay instead, remember that millions of 'waste product' male chicks must still die, often in quite gruesome circumstances (ground up alive) in order for you to enjoy them.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2009/09/01/eggs-hatchery-male-chicks-grinder-killed.html
Thanks,
Gale
(Fast fiver and vegan)
--- In fast5@yahoogroups.com, S Virk <svirk1972@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks Heather for all the useful information regarding eggs. It makes me feel good about eating "regular" eggs when the farm csa share eggs run out or are not available year round. Poor quality eggs from your information still are going to out weigh processed, poor quality packaged food. Perfection can be the downfall of progression. I'm learning to do the best with what is available. Thanks again!
>
Heather Twist
http://eatingoffthefoodgrid.blogspot.com/
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