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As the smartest animal on this planet, it is our moral responsibility to provide humane conditions to the creatures we raise to eat. The way our food is produced should reflect our values rather than being based solely on the pursuit of the almighty dollar. However, it isn't that way, even in the United States of America. Livestock such as cows, chickens, and pigs live tortured lives inside filthy slaughterhouses. The treatment of livestock needs to be more humane. As intelligent, compassionate humans, we should be concerned with all animals, especially when millions live in horrible conditions. Practically all of America's chickens are raised in stressful, crowded conditions on factory farms. Since chickens instinctively peck each other, factory workers cut off up to two-thirds of their beaks with a hot knife, causing severe pain for weeks to reduce pecking problems. Some birds cannot eat after de-beaking and starve. Many inadequately ventilated buildings have such intense manure fumes that it causes respiratory and eye infections in the birds. Six to seven egg-laying hens live their whole lives in a single wire cage with floor area of 1.7 square feet.
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