The difference between visions of what is and isn’t good animal welfare were highlighted a few weeks ago when we hosted visitors to our new pig barn on two different days. In the first case, the visitor was involved in commercial pork production. As we walked through the barn I pointed out the features that we had worked hard to build into the design — pen gates designed to let the piglets run free but hold back the sows, two doors open to let the free-running pigs outside, all four dairy curtains rolled up, so the sunlight poured in, farrowing pens bedded in fresh shavings. Even the building itself, a “Coverall” style fabric structure was selected for its amazing light and because it allowed the pigs as much space as possible on the budget we had to work with.
But the very features I admire were to the visitor cause for concern. The piglets running free meant manure was spread, despite our best efforts to keep the aisle clean, throughout the barn; the open sides of the barn meant vulnerable piglets were exposed to drafts; the open doors were an invitation to birds, with their host of diseases, to come in; the bedded farrowing pens meant newborn piglets were inevitably, again, despite our efforts to clean, exposed to urine and feces in a way that a slatted floor, without bedding, would not allow. And the barn itself — “impossible to heat, hard to control drafts.”
The very things I think if as “A” grade on the farm were “D” grade to him. And with some reason. If the primary concern of a farmer is the health of an animal, then a case can be made that control of the environment is paramount. And how is that achieved? Lock them up in a secure, controlled barn.
As I prattled on about what we were trying to achieve on our farm — outside access for piglets, natural light and air, it occurred to me that my points must sounded to his science-based mind much like the points an anti-vaxxer makes to a immunologist — airy fairy. “Fight measles with extract of rhubarb? Yes, of course ma’ am, now roll up your child’s sleeve so we can give him a shot!”
Then, just a day later, I hosted a local family — mom, dad, two children and a friend. As we walked through the barn I pointed out the bedding, the ample space we allow the pigs, the barn’s natural light and of course the piglets running free. Even though I see piglets every day they still delight me. Alas, what I saw as pig heaven they saw otherwise.
“Very industrial,” said the father.
“Too bad the mothers can’t get out with their piglets,” said the mother.
The eldest child burst into tears and ran out of the barn.
As I explained to them why we do what we do, I sounded very much like the large scale pork producer — sows confined at time of birth to prevent squishes, the need for some level of biosecurity, no feeding of food scraps for fear of contamination; instead a balanced commercial ration fed out as prescribed by an animal nutritionist.
One pig barn — two visions: a hippie dippie operation that would benefit from more control; a small scale industrial unit that withheld pigs from living rich, natural lives.
We live in times of polarized visions, especially as regards food production. What is virtuous for one is a exploitive for another.
Consumers want livestock to have outside access and more room except when the livestock is fish in fish farms; then they want the fish removed from the sea and raised in small land based pens.
Salad greens trucked from afar lack nutritional benefit but if we grow them in shipping containers, exposed to grow lights and nutrients in water, then they are both environmentally virtuous and healthy.
Cattle and pigs are bad for the environment and we’d be better to eat more grains and vegetables except manure is the best soil builder and, so far, no one has developed a soybean that poops.
Organic is superior to conventional, but often on organic farms the billowing plastic reminds me of a sailing regatta. I wonder: does my glyphosate equal their plastic?
In these times of ever increasing number, and intensity, of points of view about food production the one thing running truly free is people’s willingness to pass judgement.