What is a "humane farm" exactly?

Being an omnivore, you'd be INCLINED to agree with Grandin, in any case. I respect Grandin, but the fact is that she's on the factory farms' payrolls.
Don't kid yourself. Your "food" is not being handled by people who respect animals or wish to protect them from unnecessary harm.
I wonder how many more news stories like this it will take for people to start caring.
And hey, way to leave out the part where workers shoved rods into the pigs anuses and vaginas whenever they wouldn't move.

Also, how lame is that? You can eat it but you won't watch the whole video? I think the pigs deserve at least THAT much- to have their mistreatment seen by all unwitting contributors.

I'm with you party. first of all, I know for a fact I couldnt' have watched the clip at all. I am far too sensitive and it's images would have been with me for days. Secondly, I am not going to eat pork from Hormel until this is taken care of.

foxie, I know this seems crazy, but I can eat pork but still not want to see the pigs mistreated. I know that they are dying for me to eat, but that is the point. They are wild boars who are used to roaming the fields/forrests that are killed. They are raised for the specific purpose of providing food. It goes the same for cows, although not only do they provide food, but leather, milk, etc. i mean, it's not like you go an pick your veggies as they grow in the wild. you buy veggies that were specifically planted to be harvested for food. same concept. all of them are living things. plants "breath" just like animals do. (it's just theirs is breathing CO2 and releasing O2 instead of the other way around.)

In fact...I say, stop eating veggies and eat only meat. That way we can reduce carbon emissions as there are less animals breathing in our 02 and exhaling the mortal enemy, C02.

I should add that, you can humanely raise and kill animals. they don't have to be abused while alive. that is what makes me mad. the fact they were abused for no reason at all.

I can watch a video of my food being farmed without feeling guilty.
My fruit and vegetables aren't filled with terror being sexually assaulted and beaten.
... Are you seriously unaware that farming of animals is the number one contributer to global warming??

Duh. that's why i said we should eat them! leave the C02 gobbling plants alone! lol

Um... that's what IS happening and it's really terrible for the environment. Plant farming is the way to go.

Except that I can't order a 14 oz ribeye medium rare smothered in sauteed mushrooms. Or a great, juicy burger, with cheese and bacon. I like veggies as much as the next person, but I was being sarcastic before...

Although if you want to be so serious--don't you think we should plant double the veggies and NOT HARVEST them to counteract the meat eating? I mean, it only makes sense, because not eating meat makes no sense unless it is your culture/religion.

How does not eating meat not make any sense?? It's better for the environment, it's healthier, it would eliminate stories such as this.
Why would we plant more vegetables and then not eat them?? I don't know if you're still joking (I hope so) or being serious (EEK!).

I am merely being as polarized as you are in my opinion. I will continue to eat meat regardless, and when I eat steak, I don't feel guitly. And I shouldn't. That is why they are being raised.

What is good for you, isn't good for me. What is good for us, isn't good for everyone. It's that whole concept that the world doesn't revolve around one person. I am sure you know that though.

There certainly are differences in the way animals are handled at different farms. Some are quite humane and gentle. Some are not. It is an overgeneralization to assume that all farms are like the one depicted in this video.

I think I'll start raising babies in order to prostitute them out. It'll be okay. That's what they're being raised for.

Certainly not all farms are like this one. It's just as ignorant to assume this is an isolated case.

Hey foxie,

Why don't you take a chill pill, and instead of attacking anyone on this post that disagrees with you, go join PETA and DO something about this if it makes you so unhappy? I can't imagine being as unhappy as you seem right now. Talking to random people you don't know, doesn't matter, and doesn't help the animals that you are crying over every night.

And who assumed that this is an isolated case, foxie? It certainly wasn't me.

and the baby comment made me laugh. lol. that was pretty good.

The funny thing about this time is...I dont' care either way, I am just posting to post. I got engaged 3 weeks ago, and since then, not even the crappy DC commuters on the beltway have bothered me.

And yes, you are just as I so fondly remember you. I probably wouldn't have commented at all but I like partysugar and I feel like what you said about her OPINION (which by definition is neither right nor wrong) was unfair.

I didn't say it was you. Plenty of other people make that assumption. It seems like most consumers either don't think about this (out of guilt or sheer ignorance) or try to convince themselves mistreatment is a rarity.

Don't eat Hormel. Right now contact your congress person and ask he/she what they are going to do about this. Walk the Walk and don't just talk!

Leave it to a few morons who have to treat my pork chops inhumanely to get all the anti-meat, anti-people, pro-whale tree humper set to get up in arms. Those people should be prosecuted. People are going to eat meat and should be allowed to eat when they want. If you don't want to eat meat no is stopping you from killing all those vegetables.

And this is why I do not eat pork.

You're really missing out. MMM...Ribs.

We had pork at our wedding. It was grassfed, freerange, locally raised, and I KNOW it was humanely butchered because my father killed and butchered it himself. The animal's life was valued. Also, it was insanely tasty.

Instead of wondering where your meat came from (if you do choose to be an omnivore, one who eats both meat and plants), FIND OUT where it comes from. There are plenty of places that sell humanely raised beef, pork, chicken, etc. Better yet, go in on buying a quarter of beef with a friend; that's what we're doing. This way, as long as you have freezer space, you can buy a beef cow that was raised by a small farmer, butchered by a local processor, and picked up by yours truly, or delivered by the farmer. That way almost all the money goes back to the farmer.

I have hunted. My family is full of ethical hunters. My grandfather was a small operator pork and beef farmer (and he treated his animals with utmost respect). I personally feel that if you can't stand to kill it yourself, or if you can't stomach that idea, you shouldn't be eating meat, period. Knowing what an animal's life means, in terms of raising it, caring for it, respecting it, and then taking that life, is a hard process, but one that is essential for omnivores to understand (please see Michael Pollan's article about hunting wild boar for a good insight on this).

And meanwhile, DEMAND clean, humanely raised meat. The other problems with huge pig farms like this (and there are too many to mention here) include environmental degradation, the consolidation of farms, the possibility for spreading disease, and the need for massive antibiotics to keep these animals "healthy." Ugh.

Good post, casa. Factory farms are terrible for real farms. You know, the kind run by FARMERS, not businessmen, who take their business seriously and have a passion for it and who are less likely to treat livestock like unfeeling objects.

well said Casa.

I am a bit of a hypocrite. I wouldnt be able to have an animal killed for myself but don't feel bad buying it when it is packaged for me. I am an animal lover and support PETA to an extent. But again, I eat meat.

I tried to watch the entire video but definitely couldn't. Those workers are brutal, and should be summarily fired, and prosecuted.

Personally this wouldnt make me stop eating PORK but I think the jerks in the video still need to be shot!!! or treated the same way they treated the pigs!! IMO I dont care if it's one or twenty farms treating animals like this, NEVER should animals be treated like this EVER!! whether it was for food or NOT!!!!

I read the article and found out they are owned by a pig company my brother used to work for. Crazy..

So, this is why I'm a vegetarian...

it's things like this which make me happy that i'm a vegetarian, but we do have to remember that not ALL farms are like this and some are exceptions - so it's a trial and error thing. i think that we can all agree that PETA tries to use scare tactics and this one seems to be working, and now i'm just waiting for farmers to band toghether to show the other side of the range.

Keep hopin'....unless you buy ALL your meat from a local sustainable farm where pigs and cows at least get to lead lovely happy lives until they're slaughtered, it's a given that you've eaten meat from animals that were treated inhumanely.

Let's not even get started on chickens.

That's right, let's not start about chickens...becuase I am hungry! lol

There's this quote I used to walk by everyday at my school. I don't remember the exact words but this is the jist.

ANIMALS WERE MADE TO BE ON EARTH FOR THEIR OWN REASONS.
THEY WEREN'T MADE FOR HUMANS JUST AS BLACK PEOPLE WEREN'T MADE TO BE SLAVES AND JUST AS WOMEN WEREN'T MADE TO BE UNDER MEN.

Glad I'm a vegan and I don't need to worry about "humanely killed" (such an oxymoron) meat.

I am sick about what the video revealed. I firmly believe that those of you who are sickened by what you saw but still continue to eat meat are supporting this inhumane treatment. As long as you stuff the dead carcasses in your mouth and witness your belly expand with the fat, toxins, antibiotics that these animals are fed, the more the companies will grow rich. There are many vegan options that are quite tasty and healthy. Why not go to MHVS, Mid-Hudson Vegetarian Society and find recipes galore that are very tasty, and filing too.

I agree with another commenter that tubes, poles whatever needs to be shoved up the ___of the criminals who perpetrated this crime as well as the money grubbing sons and daughters of Hormel who are continuing to pay the farm for processing these pigs. I call for the castration of each of those sick so-called human beings who abused these kind and gentle animals. For you animal lovers who want to protect the animals but still eat them, I say you speak with forked tongue. How can you hate what these creatures are doing to the animals while chomping down on your "Steak?" Don't you realize those pork chops didn't grow in the package, and animals had to be killed--humanely or not---for you to have that food. I say stop the killing. Go VEGAN!!

Sonrisa, that is a quote from Alice Walker, the author of "The Color Purple."
"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men."

Isn't man an amazing animal? He kills wildlife by the millions in order to protect his domestic animals and their feed. Then he kills domestic animals by the billions and eats them. This in turn kills man by the millions because eating all those animals leads to degenerative and fatal health conditions. So then man tortures and kills millions more animals to look for cures for these diseases. Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals. Meanwhile, some people are dying of sad laughter at the absurdity of man, who kills so easily and so violently, and once a year sends out cards praying for "Peace on Earth."
-C. David Coates.

Just thought I'd share, Sonrisa. It's my favorite. =)

Rotten bastards. This is exactly why I'm vegetarian. Those twits will get theirs in no time.

poor pigs.

Based on my religious beliefs, woman was created for man. Just sayin.

also, people who eat meat, aren't all fat, EVERYTHING is ok in moderation. And they don't die any sooner than those who don't eat meat (considering other parts of diet as well)

*I did watch the video and It was horrible, but I still will eat meat.

*Not all meat eaters are unhealthy and overwieght

*I know where my meat comes from, and how its killed, in fact i have slaughtered many animals humanely so yes, I know how its done and what it looks like.

* I also hunt, and fish

*according to my beliefs certain animals were put on this earth not for thier own reasons, but to feed my tummy.

Yes foxie we get your point...all meat eaters are evil, evil people...move on already.

Hi readers,

My name is Julie Craven, and I work at Hormel Foods. I wanted to share the latest in the investigation on the completely unacceptable actions seen on the PETA video. We at Hormel Foods take this very seriously and want to make sure this doesn’t happen again. This supplier is cooperating with investigators and has terminated employees and will terminate others who have committed acts of animal cruelty based on this investigation.

You can read more about the actions that are being taken to address this disturbing situation at http://www.pork.org/documents/News/MowMarFARMsept08statement.pdf as well as find information about Hormel Foods’ standards for suppliers and animal welfare and care policies at http://www.hormelfoods.com/responsibility/process/animalWelfare.aspx.

- Julie, Hormel Foods

Your irrational defensiveness speaks for itself.

Your need to state your point numerous times is fantastic as well. I'm sure if you keep telling us how awful it is to eat meat and keep shoving the information down our throats that will get us to stop. Oh and for the record my comments had nothing to do with the post directly it had to do with your incessant need to state your point. I found the video quite sad actually. So since you don't know me you can keep your judgement of my character to yourself.

Do you have anything that you really, really believe in? Something bigger than you, something urgent, something life-changing? If you did, you'd understand why some people find this topic especially heart breaking and important.
If it's not important to you, then why don't you say a little prayer for the poor piggies and go on about your business? If what I'm saying doesn't strike your fancy- oh well! - I'll just find someone else. It's not like I'm hunting you down and spamming you with my opinion. But why make immature, snide remarks?

Anybody with a real soul will start to understand this dilemma. Animals other than humans feel pain, emotional and physical, just like we do. Listen to an animal screaming in pain or for its life and tell me that is not true.

They may not have the added human dimension of being philosophically aware of their existence, and suffering when that is what existence brings, but I don't think any of us sit around contemplating the meaning of life when we feel pain either. It hurts, and we want it to stop. End of story.

Later on, we think about it and write nice books about it, but that has nothing to do with suffering. Imagine some monster coming along and killing your kid. Pigs and many other farm animals have had that experience. You may think that is funny, but you will confront your true feelings about all of that when you face true suffering yourself.