Factory Farming vs. Free Range

Factory Farming:
Factory farming is non sustainable. Also known as Confined Animal Feeding Operations, it emphasizes high volume and profit rather than the health and welfare of both the animals and the humans consuming these animals.  Factory farms can have anywhere from 100s to 1000s of animals packed tightly together with little or no access to sunlight, fresh air, or natural movement.1 The animals are also subject to mutilation including docking cows’ tails and clipping pigs’ teeth and tails.1 Due to overcrowding there is an increased risk of disease., which leads to over use of antibiotics, which leads to antibiotic resistant bacteria.1 With this many animals in a confined space, excessive manure creates environmental degradation.1  Finally, iradtiation, used to counter the health risks of f.f. meat, leads to including vitamin depletion, and potentially hazardous byproducts.

Factory farms use low quality feed such as corn, grains, additives and byproducts which increase the fat content of these animals.  Animal byproducts from slaughterhouses are mixed into the feed, and animals feces can often get into the meat while it is being butchered.2  Factory farmed animals live under duress, which consequentially leads to negative physiological byproducts, including acidic byproducts, increased bacteria and less flavorful food. 2

Free Range:
Free Range is sustainable farming.  It respects the environment and treats the animals humanely as well as supports local economy.1 Sustainable farms are family owned and operated, environmentally friendly due to responsible management of soil, water, and the lives of the animal, and they don’t need excessive hormones or antibiotics. .1 Animals raised in a free range environment provide leaner, more nutritious cuts of meat and have higher levels of Omega3 fatty acid, 2-6 times more Omega3s.2 Americans consume too much Omega6 (factory farmed animals), and don’t get enough Omega3.3
Weston Price, a dentist, traveled to isolated parts of the word to discover what factors are responsible for good dental health.  He analyzed foods used by isolated people and found their food had four times as many water soluble vitamins, calcium, and minerals as well as ten times as many fat soluble vitamins from animal foods such as butter, fish eggs, shellfish, organ meats, eggs and animal fats.3  All traditional diets include some kind of animal food. According to his findings eating meat is important but factory farmed meat and fish as well as highly processed meats should be avoided.3  He also said that red meat is important because it is rich in nutrients that protect the heart and strengthen the immune system such as B12, B6, zinc, phosphorous, carnitine and co-enzyme Q10.3

“Is Your Meat Fit to Eat?”  GrassRoots Action Center for the Environment.  Factory Farm Project.   HYPERLINK “http://www.factoryfarm.org” http://www.factoryfarm.org
“Eat Well Guide.”  Sustainable Table.   HYPERLINK “http://www.eatwellguide.org” www.eatwellguide.org
“Wise Traditions.”  The Weston A. Price Foundation.   Food, Farming, and the Healing Arts.   HYPERLINK “http://www.westonaprice.org” www.westonaprice.org