Most of the dairy, meats, eggs, fruits, and vegetables available in the supermarkets are produced through industrial farming. The aim of is to produce as much as possible for the lowest possible price. Food and water is provided for animals, but artificial methods are used to maintain its health and improve production, such as vitamin supplements and growth hormones.
One major downside to industrial farming is that animals are given very little space to live. With room only to stand and live, bacterial and viral infections and diseases can spread quickly and excess use of antibiotics is needed. This is not good for the health of the animals or humans because quickly antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria and viruses form.
Also, with such a large number of animals it is hard to rid all of their waste. Man made lagoons that hold the waste can contaminate groundwater, and then lead into surface waters killing the fish and other organisms.
Reversing the issues of industrial farming is possible, but would be difficult to do. Current farming methods are inexpensive and farmers who are involved most likely would not want to change what they are doing. Animals would need to be given actually living space rather than just standing space. One thing that anyone can do to help stop industrial farming is to buy from smaller, sustainable farms. Local small farmers still want to make a profit, but they also don’t sacrifice the health of the animals and their land.
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