Thursday, June 3, 2010

Consequences of industrialized cattle farming




We must act to encourage more organic methods in the nation’s livestock industry. According to the General Accounting Office (GAO), 81 million Americans become sick, and 9,000 die from food-borne illness every year. It is insane to think about these horrific numbers. I think government should set policies that decrease industrialized cattle farming and increase organic farming in United States. Industrialized cattle farming are not only bad for our health, but it is also bad for our environment and livestock.
Brief History:

Large scale cattle farming started around 1950 in USA. At that time, most cattle were fed green grass, some corn and grain; they were slaughtered at age of three to four years old. When farmers observed that feeding corn makes cows fatter than feeding grass, farmers gradually stopped feeding grass. Instead, they began to feed cows with large amount of corn. According to Death Food.com “In the past, all beef was grass fed beef, but today what is commercially available in the United States is almost all feed a lot corn fed beef.” Cattle farming increased dramatically to fulfill people’s demands, and that was the beginning of industrialization of cattle farming. According to USDA, there are only 64 thousand organic cattle out of approximately 30 million cattle.
The difference between the industrialized and natural or pasture cattle farming are that the natural cows are free to walk/run/roam in the field, do some exercise to burn their fat, eat organic or natural grass. They do not get antibiotic or other chemical in their bodies. Unlike organic cattle, industrialized cattle are not free to walk in the field; instead, they have to stay in the farm all day in a closed location without seeing sunlight and fresh air. In addition, Corn fed beef is high in fat, especially saturated fat. However, grass fed beef has less in saturated fat, vitamin E, and more of the beneficial unsaturated fatty acids called omega-3s.
Corn-fed beef is not good for people, particularly the people who regularly eat fatty steaks and burgers. Corn fed beef may sound nutritious, but in fact corn is not healthy for cattle. The cattle's stomach systems are designed for grass, not grain. Corn fed beef fatten up quickly. A corn diet makes cattle sick deadly in some case, create more bacteria and produce E. coli in cattle stomach. The animals must have antibiotics to stave off illness and infection. Therefore, when people get sick, the antibiotics do not work for lots of us because we already have lots of antibiotics in our body.


Politics:
Too much politics is involved in farming industries. Most of the legislators are fully aware of the negative consequences processed (industrialized) food. But, they do not take any initiatives to encourage companies to grow organic cattle. Federal agencies also do not to come up with bold initiatives set standards/regulations that are good for healthy food. Instead, agencies like the Food and Drug Administration approve food standards that are found later to be not good for human consumption. Unfortunately, only a handful companies dominate the food market such as Cargill Company, which is a huge meat Producing Company. According to The New York Times article written by Michael Moss, a girl, Stephanie Smith, who was a dance instructor, was affected by in E. coli from eating meat from Cargill. Doctors had to send her into coma for nine weeks to save her life. After nine weeks, she got out of coma but became paralyzed. She is never going to live a normal life and she has to spend the rest of her life in a wheel chair. Her case is not uncommon. Like her, many people lose their beautiful lives because of these companies. Cargill is still in the business because meat companies have too much money and they hire lobbying groups. Lobbyists go to congressmen and senators and give them money for their campaign. In return, our elected officials make policies that benefit the industrialized cattle farming. Unfortunately, these policies do not serve the best health interest of us.

Health issue:
Consuming processed meat is not good for human. People suffer many diseases and they face death in some cases. Groceries get hormones animal in the stores which are not a real animal, but people do not know the difference. In addition, Stress animal, which they get in slaughter house, produces E. coli in their stomachs significantly. E. coli increases the likelihood of food poisoning in human bodies. In the movie Food, Inc. shows a lady, Barbara Kowalcyk, who is a Food Safety Advocate, lost her two and half years old son because he had E. coli in his hamburger.
E. coli also comes from cattle manure. It can mix with water in ground and affect drinking water. McAndrew said, in The Toronto Star, “At least seven people – possibly as many as nine- have died and another 1,000 have become ill from a deadly outbreak of E. coil that seeded into Walkerton’s drinking water and slipped past the town’s faulty chlorination system.” This incident exemplifies how deadly it could be for all of us in the United States because it could happen to us as well. Furthermore, recently, researchers found that mad cow disease in the cattle, “which can spread from one animal to another when the brain and spinal material form an infected cow is consumed by another cow.” When people eat meat from infected cow, they also get this disease. Over the past ten years, 150 people died because of eating meat from mad cow diseases. In addition, cattle meat increases heart disease. Looking the above example makes it clear that processed meat cause disease and it is harmful for our health.

Animal Abuse:
Farmers abuse cattle in their farms. Young calf’s meat is called “veal” which is very tasty to eat. According to the 2002 edition of Animal Liberation by Singer Peter, a veal company, Provimi, Inc. controls three- fourth USA veal market (page, 107). To make them testy, veal companies like the Provimi, prevent them from gaining muscles by keeping them in small locations inside boxes, and slaughter calves when they are three to twenty weeks.
This is an instance of cruelty because calves are supposed to walk/run in open fields. In addition, the movie Food, Inc. shows that cattle are standing in ankle deep in their manure all day long. They cannot even move in the farm where they are raised and they get little access to sunlight and fresh air. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service, every year about 10 percent, or 900 million, of the animals raised for food never reach the slaughterhouse. “They die on the farm due to stress, injury, and disease.” It is a large number even to think about it. The abuse does not stop there. Most farms are located far away from cities and slaughterhouses. Therefore, when they are transported from farms to slaughterhouses, cattle spend many hours packed into the back of trucks. This transportation hurts cattle physically. Also, slaughter houses treat these animals poorly. They cut and skin live animals in many instances. Furthermore, cattle have milking machines in their teat, and farmer milk cows excessively.

Currently, cattle have a big hole in their stomach which called “cannulate.” Farmers say the cattle do not get hurt by this hole. Actually, farmers do not understand the cattle because cattle cannot talk. Fortunately, some States have begun to take measures to prevent animal cruelty. According to New York Times article written by McKinley Jesse, “ California many soon place animal abusers on the same level as sex offenders by listing them in an online registry, complete with their home addresses and places of employment.” California understands the problem and its leaders on the right track. In short, animal abuse is prevalent in USA. Unfortunately, lots of our fellow citizens are not aware of this grave issue. We have to take initiatives to inform our fellow citizens and stop these kinds of animal abuse. At the same time, our public officials need to follow the footsteps of California.

Environment:
Industrialized cattle farming negatively affects environment. Currently, most cows are being feed corn instead of grass. As a result of corn feeding, cattle waste and fart produces methane and nitrous oxide gas. Therefore, American farmers emitting methane more than most developed nations. In the past, cattle farming were not a threat to environment; but, currently it is a big threat. It contains global warming, air and water pollution, land degradation and loss of biodiversity. According to the United Nations’ Agriculture and Consumer Protection department report, cattle farming are responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas production. Also, the same report states, “It generates even bigger shares of emissions of other gases with greater potential to warm the atmosphere: as much as 37 percent of anthropogenic methane, mostly from enteric fermentation by ruminants, and 65 percent of anthropogenic nitrous oxide, mostly from manure.” All these happen for feeding corn, non organic grass and chemical. Global warming due to the above causes will make our planet earth unlivable in long run.
To reduce emitting greenhouse gas, decrease or stop global warming, US government should set policies that will encourage farmers to grow organic cattle. Organic cattle farming will help soil allowing more oxygen in the ground to help plant grow. Also, organic cattle manure provides natural fertilizer for land.

Conclusion:
As American, we are a better nation that sets good public policies. We cannot just eat what a few companies are producing. We have to be mindful about our health and environment. We cannot let our environment in danger place by practicing industrialized livestock. People should reject the bad quality meat which we get from the meat companies. Keeping the best interest in mind, we should demand organic meat from them.

Works Cited:

“Animal Feed.” The Health issue. “n.d.” < http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/health>

“Death Food.com” Corn feed beef v s grass feed beef. “11 May 2010”

“Farm Animals-Cattle.” History. “n.d.”
“Factory farming” “Animal suffering.” May 5th 2010.
“Livestock Impacts on Environment.” United Nations. “November 2006”

Movie, Food, Inc.

Moss, Michael “Burger that shattered her life.” New York Times. “9 October 2009”

McKinley, Jesse “Lawmakers Consider an Animal Abuse Registry.” New York Times. “February 21, 2010”

McAndrew, Brian “Limiting manure possible solution” “The Toronto Star” June 1, 2000, Thursday, Edition 1.

“Organic Production.” USDA-Certified Organic Livestock. Table #5. “ 30 March 2010”


Singer, Peter. Animal Liberation: The Difinitive Classic of the Animal Movement. 2002. Ecco Press 2001. P,107.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Something about research paper

I learned a great deal about American food system while writing my research paper. While conducting research, I learned that industrialized farming significantly affect our environment and health. Also, I have been exposed to MLA format and how to utilize it for research paper. In addition, I learned how to find resources from school website and quote from these websites which helped me a lot. I did not know that I can find free books on Google website. This Google books helped me a lot to improve my research paper. I did not know that all resources are not good for use. A good research paper can also be a better research paper if you invest more time on it. Bibliography was something new for me. So, I had a hard time to write it, but finally I learned how to write it. For my future research papers, I have happy to use what I have learned in this class and looking forward to acquire additional writing techniques.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Fast food is enemy of our health

After watching the movie Super Size Me, I learned a big deal about McDonald and other fast food companies. American is one of the fattest nations in the world. Nearly, 100 million Americans are overweight or obese. That’s more than 60% of USA adults. I learned how these companies attract public to buy their food and how fast food makes public sick gradually. Nevertheless, I partially blame people for not cooking food at home.

The movie shows us how fast food companies are attracting young children. They advertise on television, and put companies’ signs everywhere. For instance, McDonalds, the largest company among fast food chain, have playground for children. As a result, most of the parents take their children in McDonalds. These fast food companies give children meals with toy, birthday party, TV shows, and carton. These ways, like McDonald, fast foods companies attract our children to go there and eat their junk food.

The movie illustrates how eating fast food causes many diseases. To proof this point, Superlock, the main character in the movie, ate McDonalds three times a day for 30 days. He started this experiment with his body weight 185 lbs. During this experiment, he felt depression and headache. In addition, in day 21, he had heart palpitations. At the end of the month, Spurlock gained more than 24 lbs, 13% mass increase, cholesterol level raised 230 from 165, sexual dysfunction, and fat accumulation to his liver. He was able to show that how these fast food companies are making us sick slowly.

However, I partially blame people for eating fast food and get sick. Lots of people do not want to cook home. Instead, they take their children and themselves in McDonalds or other fast food restaurants. People always say they are busy with work and study. They eat McDonalds because it is fast, easily to get, cheap, and ready to eat. One in four American goes to McDonalds every day because people do not have time to cook home. These types of excuses are not acceptable for staying in good health.

In conclusion, after watching the movie, Super Size Me, I understand why eating fast food make us fat and sick. I believe that if we abandon these fast food companies, we can stay healthy.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Recipes for Health
Potato and Tuna Purée
Researchers Report Progress on E. Coli Test
Blog- 3: industrialize livestock.

My topic is how Industrialize cow's livestocks are destroying our environment gradually.

1. Brief history of cattle farming here
2. What is the difference between industrialized and natural cow farming.
3. How does cow farming affect our environment?
4. Food, Inc book from page 105 to 118
5. The consequences of consuming cow meat on human health?
6. Researchers and scholars discuss about cow disease on you tube
6. How politics is involved in livestock farming?

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Essay no#1

Dear Florence,
I hope you are well. Please take my heartfelt greeting. I am sending you this letter for I want you and your family to stay in good health. I think that you can stay healthy on a budget. More often than not, people change their diet when they are ill. At that time, they tend to spend a lot of money. I urge you to consume healthy food on a budget which will aid you and your family to stay healthy.

First, I want you to grow food on your backyard which will protect you from obesity. Everyone does not have the option to have their own backyard but you have a nice backyard. Therefore, I want you to utilize this opportunity. It will help you to save some money and eat healthy food. I know you do not have lots of time to spend. You do not need more than twenty minutes to plant seeds on the land. This gardening will also help you as an exercise. For example, last summer, I was full time students and I worked part time. But, I wanted my family stay in good health. So, I decided to grow food in my own backyard. I worked in my garden late in the evening. It was really fun and I lost ten pounds. I hope gardening will really help you to cut your extra weight and you will be healthy.

Second, I desire you to eat in seasonal foods from local stores or bazaar. For example, you live in New York City; you can purchase fresh fruits and vegetable from Union Square during the summer time. Season foods are cheaper because you can find plenty of them. You also can look ads at the stores for sales. If you buy a hamburger for $ 2, you can find 8 orange or two broccolis with the same money in season. Also, you will get great taste and nutritional value which do not have without season. In addition, you know soda is really bad for health. I think you do not need to buy juice instead you can make it by yourself. If you want watermelon juice, you need a watermelon and two spoon sugar. First, crush the watermelon on juice making machines and add sugar later and you are done. You can do the same with orange, pineapple and grape. Your children will really enjoy this juice and their health will be in good shape.

Third, cooking at home instead of eating out will really help you to stay healthy. Initially, like you I thought eating out is cheaper than cooking at home. Then, I found that it was not my prudent decision because with this money I can have a very healthy homemade dinner with my family. In your case, you have children and it will be really a good idea to prepare meal at home. Before going to get hamburger from a fast food restaurant, just remember how these junk food will make your children unhealthy. In lots of cases, junk food will make your kids sick gradually. On the other hand, you just need whole wheat bread, cheese, some meat, to prepare sauces you need a spoon of plain low fat yogurt, a spoon of mustard and that are it. It will be cheap, healthy and more enjoyable for your family.

Finally, the reason why I want you to eat healthy food on a budget to protect you from obesity, diabetes and cancer, I hope you will take my advice. I also want you to see the documentary “Food, Inc” and research in the Internet for healthy recipes and try to prepare them at home. Your family and your future health will be better than others.

Sincerely your friend,
Rubina Akter