Anomaly, Jonathan, “What’s Wrong with Factory Farming?” Public Health Ethics 8(3): 246-254, 2015.
- Today’s factory farms got to this condition through competitive pressures to reduce costs.
- Three “moral” problems concern: (1) zoonoses; (2) antibiotics; and (3) cruelty. These problems are not reflected in market prices for animal products.
- Close (indoor) confinement is a breeding ground for the creation and spread of pathogens. Some of these pathogens can spread to humans. Is it justifiable to use a production method that threatens pandemics and otherwise endangers human health?
- Antibiotic use is prevalent in factory farms – in part because antibiotics can help promote growth. Massive use of antibiotics and the close confinement allow antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria to develop and thrive and infest the local environment… and sometimes to spread to humans.
- Anomaly suggests antibiotics be taxed, banned for growth promotion or to fight unhealthy farm conditions, and overseen by veterinarians. “Allowing farmers to administer antibiotics indiscriminately is tantamount to allowing them to decide how much harm they would like to inflict on other people [p. 251].”
- Farm animals and “traditional” practices are often excluded from coverage of animal welfare laws.
- “Germany has banned cages and crates for all farm animals [p. 250].” Improving conditions of confinement and eliminating antibiotics are not especially costly measures.
