Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
no. of large* animal production operations: 2002 and 1982
2002
1982
all
no. of large no. of large
percent
turkeys
the animals
operations
operations
change
in 2002
in 1982
all
11,995
3,594
+234%
turkeys
570
278
+105%
chickens
chickens
2,227
173
+1,187%
egg-laying hens
706
720
-2%
pigs
5,571
916
+508%
egg-laying hens
cows (milk)
1,939
541
+258%
cattle (beef)
982
966
+2%
pigs
cows (milk)
cattle (beef)
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
It's not much different for chickens raised for meat. They are
confined in the same type of massive, filthy sheds and are selec-
tively bred for enlarged breasts and fast growth. These birds are
slaughtered at just six weeks of age—down from eighty-four days
fifty years ago. Just think of it. They now reach “market weight”
in forty-two days and even earlier. According to researchers at the
University of Arkansas's Division of Agriculture, “If you grew as
fast as a chicken, you'd weigh 349 pounds at age 2.”
This rapid growth places more stress on their already challenged
bodies, producing not only tendon and joint ailments and crippling
leg deformities, but also respiratory, circulatory, and pulmonary
