Paul Ayers is correct is his letter Columnist incorrectly portrays commercial livestock industry (SN 10/15). MSU was founded on strong agricultural and animal husbandry heritage. However, that was before Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and corporations driven purely by profit with little to no regard for animal welfare or the environment. The following are just a few examples of industry practices Ayers claims are not tolerated when it comes to the mistreatment of animals.
Gestation crates confine pregnant pigs to a small area which prevents them from turning around.
Battery cages are used to house chickens, where they live short miserable lives in a space smaller than an 8.5-by-11 inch sheet of paper.
Veal crates, similar to gestation crates, are used with baby cows. These animals live their entire life inside this crate.
Worldwatch Institute reported in 2005 “Factory farming is an inefficient, ecologically disruptive, dangerous and inhumane way of making meat.”
Drew Robert Winter’s point was well taken in his column More vegan food needed in dorms (SN 10/10). MSU vegan and vegetarian students in the residence halls pay the same as those who consume meat, they deserve the same choices.
Beth Rhodes
social science junior
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