viewedfromthefrontorrear,wherethebrandwouldnotbe
visible.^131
These, then, are some of the standard procedures of
traditionalmethodsofrearingcattle.Otheranimalsaretreated
insimilarwayswhentheyarerearedforfood.Andfinally,in
consideringthewelfareofanimalsundertraditionalsystems,
itisimportanttorememberthatalmostallmethodsinvolve
theseparationofmotherandyoungatanearlyage,andthat
thiscausesconsiderabledistresstoboth.Noformofanimal
raising allows the animals
togrowupand becomepartofacommunityofanimals of
varying ages, as they would under natural conditions.
Althoughcastration,branding,andtheseparationofmother
andchildhavecausedsufferingtofarmanimalsforcenturies,
thecruelty oftransportationandslaughterarousedthemost
anguishedpleasfromthehumanemovementinthenineteenth
century.IntheUnitedStatestheanimalswere drivenfrom
pasturesneartheRockiesdowntotherailheadsandjammed
intorailwaycarsforseveraldayswithoutfooduntilthetrain
reached Chicago. There, in gigantic stockyards reeking of
blood and putrefying flesh, those who had survived the
journeywouldwaituntiltheirturncametobedraggedand
goadeduptherampatthetopofwhichstoodthemanwith
thepoleax.Iftheywerelucky,hisaimwasgood;butmany
were not lucky.
Sincethat time there have beensome changes. In 1906 a
federallawwaspassedlimitingthetimethatanimalscould
spendinarailwaycarwithoutfoodorwatertotwenty-eight
hours,orthirty-sixhoursinspecialcases.Afterthattimethe
animalsmustbeunloaded,fed,givenwater,andrestedforat