PETA

[ianben]

In the UK this week we have had a TV program which followed the life of a calf from birth to slaughter. You saw it born on a dairy farm and followed the life of the farmer for a few days. He was selling up because he was loosing money. They named the calf Lulu you saw it sold at auction to a rearer, again you followed the life of the farmer, a tenant farmer struggling to pay the bills and cope with F&M last year. Another farmer bought her to finish her and again the real facts and problems were shown, and we had all become quite attached to Lulu even though they did keep telling us she was a beef cow.
So what happened next?
We saw Lulu loaded up taken to the slaughter house loaded in the stun crate, shot, throat cut, blood pour out, skinned and butchered, put in the roasting tin, cooked and eaten. They even got the people who ate her to say how good she tasted.
The whole program was the truth and showed farmers in the best possible light. The ending was horrific and would only create more vegetarians.
We eat beef not cows pork not hog or pig. You are the guys who call **** canola good PR. Showing the public a happy animal and telling them it will taste good next week is something I fine difficult to see.
I believe PR is a profession just like stock detectives.
The best way to counter these people is to hire a professioal who knows how to focus on the good points.
We don't over here either but when farmers respond or partisipate in a program like Lulu it is usually counter productive.
Cowman could have the solution again pay a levy and hire the man for the job.

[Muttley]

I was searching for some info on livestock and found the PETA file (no pun intended)
www.peta-online.org/
You just won't believe the crap that is on this site. I'm sure there is some info on it that is quite true but many comments were crap.
Read this one.

They(PETA) were told that last year a employee of J.C.Penney portrait studio's witnessed rabbit's falling to the floor from the laps and arms of children and that many of the animals died.

I just can't believe this, stories like this are all over the site.
Everyone should go to this site for a look.

[countryguy]

Last night I sent these people an e-mail to start a campaign to put a ban against having pets in cities.I informed them that it was unethical to have dogs on chains all day and birds which are supposed to be flying free in cages all their lives.Can't wait to see what they say about that!!

[boss]

Tactics to counter groups like PETA:
-position yourself as the defender of the public's rights
-messages must be designed for specific audiences
-must let the audience know what they could loose if PETA prevailed
-don't bother trying to change the mind of the committed - they are inflexible and extreme

[rodbradshaw]

Deb
I was horrified to read about the pig farmer in you thread. I agree with cowman, this is a psychopath and should loose the rights to have animals including pets.
One idead that I disagree with you on is the use of the term Factory Farms. This is a PETA and Sierra Club term that is demeaning to agriculture. They coined this phrase to put animal agriculture in a poor light. If we use the term, we are giving credence to their cause. The other part of the discussion should be that if the farmer had been able to make a profit from his efforts we may not have seen the move to these large farming units but since the consumer wont pay , the industry has had to do something to remain in business. The other thing that is forcing these larger operations is FOOD SAFETY issues and the cost of tracibility for our food chain.

One last comment, I remember going to University some 20 years ago and seeing a beautiful Irish Red Setter tied to the railing of one of the buildings. It was about the same weather as we have now (-20) and this poor dog had to sit their for at least 50 minutes or more. Their was a bunch of us who discussed it later and we sure would have like to seen the owner stripped down and tied to the railing and see how they felt. I agree with countryguy most city people should not have pets as they don't understand how to care for their needs.
Rod
P.S. The trial in the U.S. may have an effect on what kind of animals people keep.

[bombay_43]

I believe we need to use another approach with this problem. Possibly use these animal activists to further our own cause.

Point out the fact that many animals that obviously need to be put down due to injuries, disease, etc. are now being clubbed to death, because farmers can't own guns!

Maybe THEY will expend their energies on lobbying the government to allow farmers to carry guns again!

[redhen]

Hi Deb, and some of my friends from the egg discussion )

Is anyone aware that the Alberta SPCA has an award for humane treatment of farm animals? They couldn't do it last year, but hope to resume in 2002.

For the SPCA to have such an award available indicates that there are still some concerns about livestock welfare in general.

Take heart, Deb! I believe very strongly in the small mixed farm as an important part of Canada's future. We need to find ways to make the land we farm more productive. To do this, we may see a shift towards more poultry consumption, since the grain and water required per pound of table poultry is far less than for a pound of pork or beef. Those are the facts, plain and simple. Our planet isn't growing in size, but our population is.

If the drought in Alberta continues, we may need to be even more creative. Years ago, I read about someone in the southern US who was raising Iguanas for human consumption. They are well-suited to southern Alberta's dry climate and are reported to have a flavour and texture much like chicken.

As for PETA, they are extreme, but they are indeed the balance to the unspeakable acts of cruelty committed by disturbed individuals or groups. For all their lofty ideals (that we shouldn't have "pets" for example) and sensationalised reports, there are some seeds of truth in their general philosophies.

We do tend to think of animals as "parts" of the entire farming and ranching process. Anyone who has worked intimately with one or two from a herd will soon see individual personalities emerging. We need to remember that as we raise them. They are not "7 of 9" in a cattle collective. They are individual and unique.

Currently we have three hens in our home, one born without a hip, one recovering miraculously from a compound leg fracture and extreme frost damage to her foot (accidentally caught in a barn door) and another who is recovering from "stroke" symptoms.

All of these birds have been examined by our vet, and each one of them has a distinct personality. They all have different sounds and "phrases" when they respond to us. They like different foods. One follows me around like a puppy, complete with wagging tail, and puts herself to bed each night in a cardboard box lined with shavings.

As far as possible, I believe it is important to honour the creatures we raise. That doesn't mean bestowing them with human qualities. It means honouring their individual rights and needs. It means facilitating their health and contentment.

And occasionally it means breaking all the rules of "traditional" farming and opening our eyes to new possibilities.

blessings, Elisabeth

[Deb]

Whew! Thanks Redhen.

[cowman]

I believe if you own animals you have a duty to that animal! To feed them,take care of them and to not let them suffer. When you have an animal that is old, sick or disabled the kindest thing is to kill them. Example I had a border collie that got run over. For awhile it looked like she might recover but in the end she was paralyzed in the back legs. The vet suggested a little wheel set up for her rear end so she could get around! The kindest thing I ever did was when I shot her! And do you know if it had been me paralyzed I would have wanted someone to shoot me!
What bothers me about groups like PETA is they are a bunch of city slickers who in no way understand animal agriculture or the economics of it. If the farmer can not make money at raising animals then he won't own them! I agree with Rod that the term "factory farm" is misleading. I mean who are these evil "factory farmers"? I live fairly close to a 2200 sow barn. Is this some evil foreign corporation? No! It is owned by a guy I played by the creek with as a child, played baseball with as a teenager, our kids played hockey together....in otherwords my good neighbor! He buys a lot of barley and wheat in the area, supports all the good causes, provides a lot of jobs, and puts on one hell of a party every year for all the neighbors! Is it wrong that he wants to make a buck? Would everyone be happier if all the farmers had to go back to subsistence farming? If there is no real money in farming then there soon will be no farmers!

[Deb]

Just out of curiosity Cowman, 3 or 4 questions for you. Do you live downwind? How many acres does that farmer have on which to spread his manure? Does he have a lagoon? That's an awful lot of sows. Is he raising them for Puraton or Elite Swine or something like that?

[nakodo]

One of the PETA supporters walked into the toughest bar in town, strode up to the biggest biker in the place. He was decked out in black ; leather chaps, leather jacket, leather belt and leather shoes.

The PETA rep waggled a finger in his nose and said "did you know a cow was murdered to make that jacket?"

He paused, slowly looked up and said...

"yes, but I didn't realize there were any witnesses, now I have to kill you to!"

[cowman]

Deb: I live about 4 miles away so I don't get any smell. He injects all the manure and he has a huge lagoon. Believe it or not it doesn't really stink all that much . He only has 320 acres but his brother has about 1500 so they have no problem disposing of the manure. He owns a major share in an even bigger pig barn down south somewhere. And he has some sort of deal with a whole bunch of smaller finishing barns. He retains ownership of all the pigs and basically pays these guys to feed them out.
He is a good businessman and is very smart. Before he went into this business he was an oil consultant who oversaw projects all over the world...Saudi Arabia, the north sea, Beaufort, Venezuela. He comes from an old pioneer family in this area and is very well respected.