U.S. Farm Bureau Declares War on Sustainable Food

[lesa]

Something very interesting on CBS news last night. In Denmark they are experimenting with raising pigs without antibiotics. They are having wonderful results and several Dr's mentioned how those unnecessary antibiotics have led to human resistance. In addition, they are selling way more of the pork. Looks really win-win. The head of the "US Pork Dept" (or whatever it is properly called), of course, said this was ridiculous and antibiotics for unsick animals are necessary. I was pleased to see this being reported on by mainstream media.

 

[vfem]

You know, they started the use of antibotics when the industry wasn't as 'clean' as it could have been. But then the use continued as more restrictions were imposed... now its just a misconception that the industry has always had disease problems.

Changes have to made to go back to a cleaner healthier way, that's all there is to it. Everyone can scream 'unfair' all they want...

But even toyota ended up having to recall all those cars... cost does NOT beat health and safety and the people with the wallets will win what they want in the end. The first people to change over will see the greatest up front return for making the changes needed.

 

[wifezilla]

Is socialism your police department, your fire department, your schools and the roads you drive on? These are all for the common good and your taxes are supposed to pay for these.

I don't consider a Sheriff that I elect and is accountable to the voters nor my local volunteer fire department to be anything even remotely similar to organizations that promote eco-terrorism or are affiliated with extreme animal rights organizations that shall not be named.

You know, they started the use of antibotics when the industry wasn't as 'clean' as it could have been. But then the use continued as more restrictions were imposed... now its just a misconception that the industry has always had disease problems.

Antibotics were a solution to the wrong problem. The disease is seen as the core issue, when it is the conditions that caused the disease in the first place that are the problem. We know those problems are overcrowding and poor feed. Antibiotics just allow MORE crowding and a continuation of poor feeding practices.

 

[seedcorn]

Antibotics were a solution to the wrong problem. The disease is seen as the core issue, when it is the conditions that caused the disease in the first place that are the problem. We know those problems are overcrowding and poor feed. Antibiotics just allow MORE crowding and a continuation of poor feeding practices.

antibiotic feeding to animals was widespread when hogs were fed outside because they picked up every known disease. By moving these animals inside (to get them out of the elements that took more feed that the animals used for heat), they compounded the problem.

By starting from animals the were C-sectioned, raised inside, controlled areas the use of antibiotics were curtailed. That only works for so long as eventually a disease gets in. Depending on the disease, may have to depopulate and start over.

I wish some of you had any idea how the swine industry was before confinement. The lice, boar fights, sow fights, frigid conditions, sow prolapses, predators, piglet death, diseases, pecking order problems, etc. Don't even think about the feed conversions we had then or the pigs/sow/year raised. It takes 1.5 lbs per pound of feed less for a lb. of gain today than in the early 80's. The industry is using less antibiotics and they now have to be withdrawn (days depends on antibiotic used withdrawal) before slaughter or carcass is rejected.

 

[wifezilla]

I wish some of you had any idea how the swine industry was before confinement.

Depends on how far you want to go back

In many cases, the baby was thrown out with the bathwater when it came to raising animals for food.

 

[Lavender2]

Something very interesting on CBS news last night. In Denmark they are experimenting with raising pigs without antibiotics. They are having wonderful results and several Dr's mentioned how those unnecessary antibiotics have led to human resistance. In addition, they are selling way more of the pork. Looks really win-win. The head of the "US Pork Dept" (or whatever it is properly called), of course, said this was ridiculous and antibiotics for unsick animals are necessary. I was pleased to see this being reported on by mainstream media.

It was GREAT to see!
I've been reading a lot about Denmark. It was the organic country of the year last year.


In other news ...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/earth-environment/article6985295.ece

"In an interview with The Times, he said that the ban on organic farmers using GM crops was based on an excessively rigid rejection of synthetic approaches to farming and a misconception that natural ways were safer and more environment- friendly than man-made ones."

Who'd a thunk?

ETA: a few 'man-made ones' ... Pollution information site

 

[seedcorn]

I wish some of you had any idea how the swine industry was before confinement.

Depends on how far you want to go back

In many cases, the baby was thrown out with the bathwater when it came to raising animals for food.

OK, I go back to the 60's....how far back do we need to go? When they were raised w/out all the problems?

 

[Ladyhawke1]

In them there olden days, people raised their pigs for food. We are not talking MASS production here. The pigs had room to roam and like most animals if there was enough room...the kept clean and only pooped in certain areas.

The dynamics of overcrowding causes animal behavior to change. It brings on stress, which brings on many other health problems. So if profits are peoples motives for raising animals in such fashions.then this will always be the results.

I think I must have become a socialist eco-terrorist. woot! woot! woot!

 

[wifezilla]

In them there olden days, people raised their pigs for food. We are not talking MASS production here. The pigs had room to roam and like most animals if there was enough room...the kept clean and only pooped in certain areas. woot

The dynamics of overcrowding causes animal behavior to change. It brings on stress, which brings on many other health problems. So if profits are peoples motives for raising animals in such fashions.then this will always be the results.

Exactly.

I am talking about going back to the days when pork were raised on pasture and acorns. We aren't talking 1960's.

Pastured pork is making a comeback...
http://www.cawcawcreek.com/
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Benefits-of-Pastured-Pork
http://www.hickorynutgapfarm.com/Pastured_pork.html
http://www.rollinghillsfarm.com/pastured-pork/pastured-pork
http://www.hollinfarms.com/pages/pork.html
http://www.rockinh.net/Pastured Pork.htm

 

[ducks4you]

We are blessed because the privately owned grocery store 10 minutes away from us gets ALL of the their meat from the Amish locker--I talked to the butcher to confirm this. We do other business with members of an Amish community an hour away from us and I SEE how they keep their livestock--ALL grass fed, ALL pastured.
Very rarely is any of the meat tough, it is also priced about the same as in C-U. The pork and beef steaks are particularly tender.

There was a recent article in "Hobby Farms" about black pigs, and how they are well-suited for pasturing because they don't sunburn. I understand that they are an endangered breed, but used to be quite numerous.