Factory farmed
or free-range?
Intensive livestock rearing methods make meat cheaper
and more widely available, but there are ethical issues
to consider. Intensive farming has consequences for
animal welfare and can even influence food nutrition.
Ethics of intensive rearing
Intensive livestock agriculture on a large scale can be attributed to the
explosive growth of confined animal feeding operations, or CAFOs.
These factory farms have very high numbers and densities of animals,
confined in small areas and fed grain with many enhancers and
additives, such as antibiotics and hormones. CAFOs fuel the economy
by producing large amounts of meat quickly, but at a great cost to
animal welfare, nutritional value (see p.71), and the environment.
Intensively farming animals causes them to suffer from stress for the
majority of their lives and this ethical issue has influenced some
changes in animal rearing to keep livestock happier and healthier.
Factory diet
Factory-farmed pigs are fed
mainly on corn, which is very high
in unhealthy polyunsaturated
omega-6 fatty acids (see p.136)—
high levels of this fatty acid can
also be found in their meat.
OMEGA-6
FATTY ACIDS
CORN FEED
Natural diet
Pigs fed on their natural diet of
leaves and nuts generally have
more healthy omega-3 fatty
acids (see p.136) in their diet and
this means that their meat has
more omega-3 in it.
OMEGA-3
FATTY ACIDS
GRASS
DO HAPPIER
ANIMALS PRODUCE
BETTER MEAT?
Livestock such as cows and pigs
that are allowed to roam outside
are generally less stressed—but it
is the natural diet of grasses and
nuts they eat outside that
makes their meat more
nutritious.
Pasture-raised hens have an
average of 108sq ft (10sq m)
in which to roam
P
A
S
T
U
R
E
-
R
A
I
S
E
D
F
R
E
E
-
R
A
N
G
E
C
A
G
E
D
Free-range hens
have an average of
11sq ft (1sq m) in
which to roam and
the option of
going outside
Living space
A hen can be reared under various
regimes (see opposite), and the
amount of space that the animal
can inhabit during its lifetime will
vary depending on the country.
These are average figures from a
farm in Austin, Texas.
US_232-233_Factory_farmed_or_free_range.indd 232 18/01/2017 09:49
232 233232 233
Types of animal rearing
There are a confusing number of terms that can
be found on food. They describe farming practices,
but many of them mean something different to what
consumers may assume they mean. Even within one
category there can be wide variations. Although free-
range sounds idyllic, chickens may still live in high
densities and stay cooped up inside for most of their
lives since they only have the option to go outside for a
small amount of time each day and some farmers never
actively shepherd them onto pasture. There are voluntary
farming practices that keep animals in good, healthy
conditions, but producers must join a certified program
set and checked by authorities to put welfare labels on
their produce. The table below provides a guide to the
most common labels found on beef or chicken.
FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT
Factory farmed or free-range?
Caged hens may
live in spaces only
½sq ft (450sq cm)
big and do not
have the option to
roam outside
OVER 168 GASES
ARE RELEASED IN CAFO
WASTE, SOME OF WHICH
ARE DANGEROUS
CHEMICALS
DEFINITION
TERMS
Some farmers give antibiotics to uninfected animals as
a precaution against disease organsims, which thrive in
crowded conditions. Because growth is stunted while an
animal is ill, precautionary antibiotics increase the rate
of weight gain on average, leading to higher meat
production. This indiscriminate overuse of
antibiotics, however, contributes to the
spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in
both livestock and humans. These bacteria
outcompete beneficial bacteria
and can become “superbugs”
for which we have no defense.
OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS
P
A
S
T
U
R
E
-
R
A
I
S
E
D
F
R
E
E
-
R
A
N
G
E
C
A
G
E
D
Free-range
Barn-raised
Organic
Grass-fed
Pasture-raised
Free-range standards may simply include
having access—no matter how remote—to
outdoor space, but animals may never
actually go outside. Chickens can live in
high densities and can be debeaked (have
their beaks removed) and cows can also
live in high densities.
Animals are not caged, but they are
restricted indoors, kept at a high density,
are usually debeaked (for chickens), and are
not allowed to forage or eat grass.
This primarily refers to organic feed, and to
the banning of antibiotics and hormones.
Food that is organic usually includes higher
welfare standards such as outdoor time and
no debeaking in chickens.
After weaning, animals are allowed to
eat only grasses. Cows that eat their natural
diet of grass produce meat and milk
(see p.89) that is more nutritious.
This is similar to grass-fed, although some
grain feed is allowed. Livestock are raised
outdoors, eating a selection of nutrient-
dense forage crops.
US_232-233_Factory_farmed_or_free_range.indd 233 23/02/2017 11:28
232 233232 233
Types of animal rearing
There are a confusing number of terms that can
be found on food. They describe farming practices,
but many of them mean something different to what
consumers may assume they mean. Even within one
category there can be wide variations. Although free-
range sounds idyllic, chickens may still live in high
densities and stay cooped up inside for most of their
lives since they only have the option to go outside for a
small amount of time each day and some farmers never
actively shepherd them onto pasture. There are voluntary
farming practices that keep animals in good, healthy
conditions, but producers must join a certified program
set and checked by authorities to put welfare labels on
their produce. The table below provides a guide to the
most common labels found on beef or chicken.
FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT
Factory farmed or free-range?
Caged hens may
live in spaces only
½sq ft (450sq cm)
big and do not
have the option to
roam outside
OVER 168 GASES
ARE RELEASED IN CAFO
WASTE, SOME OF WHICH
ARE DANGEROUS
CHEMICALS
DEFINITION
TERMS
Some farmers give antibiotics to uninfected animals as
a precaution against disease organsims, which thrive in
crowded conditions. Because growth is stunted while an
animal is ill, precautionary antibiotics increase the rate
of weight gain on average, leading to higher meat
production. This indiscriminate overuse of
antibiotics, however, contributes to the
spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in
both livestock and humans. These bacteria
outcompete beneficial bacteria
and can become “superbugs”
for which we have no defense.
OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS
P
A
S
T
U
R
E
-
R
A
I
S
E
D
F
R
E
E
-
R
A
N
G
E
C
A
G
E
D
Free-range
Barn-raised
Organic
Grass-fed
Pasture-raised
Free-range standards may simply include
having access—no matter how remote—to
outdoor space, but animals may never
actually go outside. Chickens can live in
high densities and can be debeaked (have
their beaks removed) and cows can also
live in high densities.
Animals are not caged, but they are
restricted indoors, kept at a high density,
are usually debeaked (for chickens), and are
not allowed to forage or eat grass.
This primarily refers to organic feed, and to
the banning of antibiotics and hormones.
Food that is organic usually includes higher
welfare standards such as outdoor time and
no debeaking in chickens.
After weaning, animals are allowed to
eat only grasses. Cows that eat their natural
diet of grass produce meat and milk
(see p.89) that is more nutritious.
This is similar to grass-fed, although some
grain feed is allowed. Livestock are raised
outdoors, eating a selection of nutrient-
dense forage crops.
US_232-233_Factory_farmed_or_free_range.indd 233 23/02/2017 11:28
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