Animal Factory

I have completed reading Animal Factory by David Kirbly.  It is a substantive read on the way in which pork, beef, and poultry are processed in "modern day" factories in the United States.  The book is complete with the personal trials and tribulations of those who are being affected and effected by the pollution that is caused by these large factory farms.  While I am sure it is not indicative of every livestock operation in the country it is a stark reminder of how agribusinesses are hell bent to make profits on animal proteins REGARDLESS of the stress on the animals they raise and the land, air, and water that are absolutely polluted by Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's).


The book is well researched and written.  It follows the story of several people fighting against pork and beef CAFO's in North Carolina and Washington.  It is somewhat exasperating to read how the American political system is stacked against ordinary Americans who cannot contribute to the campaign coffers like those of Big Livestock.  In fact, you can read my letter in the recent issue of Nation's Restaurant News to read my stark opinion of  layer chicken CAFO's.

To underscore the magnitude of the problem revealed in Animal Factory, even the Wall Street Journal seems to runnning a story or two per week concerning the pollution caused by CAFO's.  The latest of which appeared in yesterday's issue concerning a cattle CAFO here in Indiana.  It appears that the liner of the lagoon which holds liquified manure to prevent it from seeping into the ground and polluting local drinking water is starting to develop giant gas bubbles in it as it separates from the bottom of the lagoon.  The farmer who has the best of intentions has considered "poking a hole in the liner" to eliminate the bubble of course leading to the pollution it was intended to prevent in the first place. 

Animal Factory is filled with true stories far worse than this Indiana-based livestock operation.

The point being, we can make a difference as culinary arts and hospitality educators by bringing to light the unsustainable and inhumane practices being used today by Big Livestock to put out meat and poultry at the lowest cost possible to then socialize the true cost of their operations in the form of pollution which has led to serious documented illnesses and infections by those who are nearby.  We need to educate our students on locally sourced proteins from sustainable farms truly run by family farmers and not those that are bought and sold and under the control of Big Livestock.  Once there are no markets for CAFO raised pork, poultry, and beef Big Livestock will change its ways because it is possible to protect the environment and make a profit  -- but they will not change their ways until there is no market for their products.