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Opinion Poultry Production
Is activist pressure winning out over common sense
Many people in the farming community shake their head in disbelief and do little to oppose the popular slogans from animal welfare and environment protection groups. They still believe that these minority activists won’t get the support to succeed, because their claims are not based on sound scientific evidence. Besides the activists are ignoring the fact that we live in a free world which supports the idea of free trade. Stopping the bio-industry in The Netherlands or even the EU would prompt producers outside these prohibition regions to produce more and export it at a price level that no extensive producer could meet or meat trader could refuse.
There is still hope, however, for common sense, but the question is whether politicians and the media follow the rules of common sense. They are more likely to follow the popularity polls than support or even thinking objectively about the bio-industry.
Producers from outside the EU may think that this trend is to their advantage. And in some respect that is true, but one lesson to be learnt from this is that ignoring the issues or not responding timely to unfair allegations against intensive livestock production will lead to situations like we see now in the EU as well as in the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
- Author: Wiebe van der Sluis
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Comments ( 31 )
It is ironic to that the confinement industry is complaining that they are about to lose their shirts to the traditional pastured farmers they have tried so hard to destroy. One additional benefit of the closing of the confinement livestock operations is that people will buy locally, supporting their local farmers and keeping their money in the local economy. This will also decrease petroleum usage as food is not transported such long distances. It will also increase food security since the production will be more evenly distributed and people will get to know their local food producers better. Sure, Big Business is upset they're being eliminated but the elimination of factory farms is a wonderful thing that benefits everyone else.
Dig this brother---soul mama told me about this nonsense.Are you the same dude runs that Bill Gates website--totally un-cool even if it is a joke.That Kim crotchly or critchly here sounds like one cold hearted old broad-oh sorry if your lordship finds that offensive but you gotta admit she sounds like a sour pickle! And oh yeah that jc macey person is so full of it--the third world starving countrys dont get none of all those murdered animals products anyway,so lets get real here.And in closing I would advise you to stop pretending to be Bill Gates and also to post more of your love-hate mail so we can get a accurate idea of whats what. espically my soul sister K'sha.she is disapointed not to see her letter she worked so hard on . PEACE,BRO.
I don't know to whom you refer as big business, chicken farmers and all their money? "Where chicken and eggs come from", did you think they came from the garden? Are vegetables big business, with thousands of acres of lettuce, tomatoes, etc on one farm. If we could all just raise our own food, then we would all be happy. But we have to depend on someone else to feed us. If it comes to where the likes of the above or their ideals furnish us with food, I fear 80% of the world would starve. Or is that what you want?
The answer to your question in this blog is a resounding YES!Activist pressure is most certainly winning and for a very good reason-we are right!So what do you have to say to that Mr.VanderSluis?I think you may be playing a sly little game here,but that is just MY opinion. Thank you.
Hello,my sister Sophia insisted I check out this website,and what I have found is not to my liking at all.It appears to be VERY biased in favor of the AGRIBUSINESS industry with many thinly veiled insults directed to the animal welfare/rights movement that is taking place worldwide.As far as realising that your time has come,you are SO right my not-friend,the time HAS come to close your doors and admit defeat.The agribusiness you tout so heavily in your blogs is on its way out now--and good riddence!It WILL NOT be missed.
It is ironic to that the confinement industry is complaining that they are about to lose their shirts to the traditional pastured farmers they have tried so hard to destroy. One additional benefit of the closing of the confinement livestock operations is that people will buy locally, supporting their local farmers and keeping their money in the local economy. This will also decrease petroleum usage as food is not transported such long distances. It will also increase food security since the production will be more evenly distributed and people will get to know their local food producers better. Sure, Big Business is upset they're being eliminated but the elimination of factory farms is a wonderful thing that benefits everyone else.
to liz stanley- factory farms and slaughterhouse ARE concentration camps-for animals. and get off your self-righteous high horse and read a few good books on animal rights.you need to learn the facts. if you did that you would see why animal rights people are so passionate. no, not perfect, but RIGHT and and you know it. why are you visiting this site anyway?
Sir, might I suggest you actually get down in the trenches,so to speak, and work for one week on a factory farm, and one week in a poulty slaughterhouse.Not as an observer,but as a low paid worker doing dirty and dangerous work in a filthy and exceedingly cruel environment. Then you might know something about what the activists are protesting. It is easy to live a priveleged life and sit at a computer all day and spin a lot of drivel to further your interests.
I don’t usually comment on blogs, but I have been following the comments on this one and what can I say some of the comments have inspired me to put ‘ink to paper’ so to say. At one stage I was confused as to whether the blog I was reading was the same blog some of the comments were based on – but then when you see a couple of people even got the blogger name wrong well that says enough. Do they just read the title and assume the rest? As for the reference to Adolph, please, name calling, is this kindergarden. Do you honestly think you can convince people of your beliefs by name calling… the only thing that does is insult the memory of all those people who did suffer during those horrific years. I myself am a vegetarian, but unlike some, I believe in the freedom of choice, you know that thing we call democracy. Threats and ramming your opinions down peoples’ throats - really who is more like a particular German dictator?
WEIBE,sorry my friend Dovie and I got your name wrong up there,guess that shows just how insignificant you are in the scheme of things. Actually your name should be Adolph, if you get my meaning.Here is a name worth remembering:Mahatma Gandhi.He said "the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being."
We KNOW how you treat your poultry,that is why more and more people are refusing to buy or eat it!Dont you realize that people are sick and tired of all the violence and cruelty in the world and that it all starts on their dinnerplates and spreads to every facet of life today??It MUST stop before we completely destroy the planet.Cruelty-free living and a vegan diet is the ONLY way to save our world.
yes Wiebe, the time HAS come for you to close your doors and accept the fact that your time has come.Better late than never. Big business, especially that which exploits living,breathing creatures in such cruel and horrendous ways, is on its way out. The people have spoken. You have been in power too long. We want a better world and agribusiness is NOT a part of it.
Listen up Werner,I have written to you before with the best intentions of trying to get you to see the errors of your way of thinking and offer you practical advice on how you might do this and become a decent person.But since you choose to ignore my well-meaning advice,I feel it is time to get real. The animal rights movement is getting stronger every day. We know how those chickens and other poultry are treated on your factory farms. We know how they meet their end in your filthy,disease ridden and unspeakably cruel slaughterhouses.All this and more we know what goes on in one of the most greedy and inhumane industrys in the world.It is an abomination to God and humanity.These birds has as much right ot live and enjoy a natural life as you or I. Who gives you perverts the right to exploit,torture and kill them?For what? So you can get richer while sickening the consumer with your deadly and diseased product?You and your ilk are no better than Adolph Hitler. You have the same mentality and for that I pity you,although you do not deserve pity.The birds deserve pity for the atrocities you commit on them. And don't ever under-estimate the animal rights movement.We are working dilligently to educate the masses and we are winning, slowly but surely. Soon your reign of terror over the animals will dwindle down to nothing, your coffers will be empty and the world will be a better place. So you better get ready for the change that is coming.
Right on to Phil Westwood! He is so correct in his observations! You people are greedy and money hungry and so full of self serving BS that it is almost funny. Why dont you go back into the woodwork (like cockroaches) where you belong? You are devoid of heart and brains. STUPID!!
I raise chickens for egg production in a humane way. I don't use cages at all. My chickens spend their days in a open pasture and are fed only natural feed. This is better for me, for the people who eat my eggs, and for the enviroment. It is also better for national security because I do not use large quantities of foreign oil to ship my goods all over the country. I am not a welfare farmer.I do not use government subsidies, like most agri-businesses. I do all of this because I do not to destroy this country or this planet in order to turn a quick buck. If more farmers felt the way I do, this country would be in a lot better shape. The death of megafarms and large scale agri-businesses is long overdue and I welcome the change.
It is too long that concentrated producers in their sunless barns have been supported over the little farms by government. Now it is time for balance. We dont need huge businesses generating pollution in our communities. It is not for our benefit yet we pay the price. I buy only from local farmers who raise pigs sheep cows and chickens in the fields out where there is fresh air and clean water and more humane situations. The life is better and the meat is better health. Yes the cost is a very little more but it is worth it.
It is ironic to that the confinement industry is complaining that they are about to lose their shirts to the traditional pastured farmers they have tried so hard to destroy. One additional benefit of the closing of the confinement livestock operations is that people will buy locally, supporting their local farmers and keeping their money in the local economy. This will also decrease petroleum usage as food is not transported such long distances. It will also increase food security since the production will be more evenly distributed and people will get to know their local food producers better. Sure, Big Business is upset they're being eliminated but the elimination of factory farms is a wonderful thing that benefits everyone else.
There is probably little that can be done to return the situation to sanity as the developed country's population loses touch with the food producing sector. They have scant knowledge of the international situation and that intensive animal agriculture actually saves an increasingly scarce resource.
"maybe the time will come that we will have to close the doors and accept that our business has changed and had its time." This is indeed common sense. I am one of the consumers who found out where chicken and eggs come from. I will never give either industry a cent of my money, ever again
