The sad and shocking truth concerning the realities of factory farming are now coming to light, and vegetarianism and veganism are no longer taboo. Thanks in part to animal rights organizations, videos that depict the violence and procedures conducted in some farms have convinced many people to drop their omnivorous diet and adopt a vegetarian or vegan one instead.

The actual slaughtering of the animal is no longer quick and painless. Because companies are trying to increase their profit, short cuts are often taken at the expense of animals. For example, rather than investing in a technology that will wipe out an entire room of chickens through the method of Controlled Atmosphere Killing, they are dunked into a vat of boiling hot water instead, which has proved to be inefficient as some chickens are still alive and forced to endure their wounded condition plus have their feathers pulled off before killed.

Electrical immobilization has proven to be ineffective at times because the first time around doesn’t always kill the animal outright. Euthanasia would be humane but impractical for the company who is trying to increase their profits. Other contraptions that are designed to make the death quick and painless have also failed.

To make matters worse, animal abuse and cruelty are prevalent in some of these factory farms, and employees are partially to blame. Undercover footage has helped to reveal the following incidences:

Chickens having their necks snapped or their heads ripped off.

• Cows being hanged by their legs while their necks are cut and their blood allowed to drip freely.
• Animals kicked, beaten, or stabbed.
• Chickens being hurtled across the room.
• Pigs having their ears and tails cut off so other pigs don’t bite them in their cramped quarters.

What’s worse is that the abuse doesn’t start during the time of slaughter. Some employees will actually participate in random bouts of violence and kick, punch, and prod these animals for no apparent good reason. Disgruntled, unhappy employees? Regardless, companies need to ensure that their workers are not engaging in senseless violence just for fun.

And that doesn’t count the cruel and unethical treatment that veal calves and ducks receive. Veal calves are forced into tiny living quarters for limited movement and deprived of food. Because pale, soft meat indicates top-of-the-line veal, these calves undergo horrific conditions. Ducks are stuffed with enormous amounts of food so their livers will become largely engrossed. This liver is called “fois gras” and is considered a delicacy, but many will agree that there is nothing delicate about the matter.

In the end, the animals are the ones to suffer while people barbecue those ribs and steaks without giving a thought to how the meat was produced.