Ihaveconcentratedonmodernintensivefarmingmethodsin
thischapterbecausethegeneralpublicislargelyignorantof
the suffering these methods involve; but it is not only
intensivefarmingthatcausesanimalstosuffer.Sufferinghas
beeninflictedonanimalsforhumanbenefitwhethertheyare
reared by modern or traditional methods. Some of this
suffering hasbeennormal practiceforcenturies. This may
leadustodisregardit,butitisnoconsolationtotheanimalon
whom it is inflicted. Consider, for example, some of the
routine operations to which cattle are still subjected.
Nearlyall beefproducers dehorn, brand,and castrate their
animals. All of these processes can cause severe physical
pain.Hornsarecutoffbecausehornedanimalstakeupmore
space ata feeding trough or in transit and can harmone
anotherwhenpackedtightlytogether.Bruisedcarcassesand
damaged hides are costly. The horns are not merely
insensitive bone. Arteries and other tissue have to be cut
whenthehornisremoved,andbloodspurtsout,especiallyif
the calf is not dehorned shortly after birth.
Castrationispracticedbecausesteers arethoughttoput on
weightbetterthanbulls—althoughinfacttheyseemonlyto
put on more fat—and because of a fear that the male
hormoneswillcauseatainttodevelopintheflesh.Castrated
animalsarealsoeasiertohandle.Mostfarmersadmitthatthe
operationcauses shockand painto theanimal.Anesthetics
aregenerallynot used.Theprocedureis topin theanimal
down, take a knife, and slit the scrotum, exposing the
testicles.Youthengrab eachtesticleinturnand pullonit,
breakingthecordthatattachesit;onolderanimalsitmaybe
necessary to cut the cord.^127