By Julie Knopp, as appeared in Minnesota Veg Living, Issue 10
April 29, 2024
At Farmaste Animal Sanctuary in Lindstrom, Minnesota, pig sisters Violet and Ophelia enjoy space to roam, belly rubs, and their favorite foods: watermelon and pumpkin. They lead peaceful lives, but sadly, their mother experienced some of the worst abuses imaginable.
In 2016, Ophelia and Violet’s mother was rescued — along with 1,000 other individuals — from the largest farmed animal cruelty case in the Northeastern U.S. Many of the animals had no access to food or water. Dead animals were scattered among the living, and many of the surviving animals had to be euthanized due to ill health.
Shortly after her rescue, Ophelia and Violet’s mother gave birth to her daughters. Born after rescue, they are two of the few lucky pigs in the world who will only know love their whole life long.
More than 90% of pigs and all other farmed animals spend their lives trapped inside factory farms. Also known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), factory farms are large-scale industrial facilities that mass-produce billions of animals each year for human consumption. These facilities prioritize efficiency over animal welfare. Thousands — or even tens of thousands — of animals spend their lives trapped inside a single factory farm. They lack fresh air, proper socialization, and the ability to express natural behaviors. Under these extreme conditions, animals suffer immense distress.
Much of this animal suffering occurs in Minnesota. Our state produces more turkeys than any other state in the nation, and is one of the top five pork producers in the country. A recent undercover investigation at Holden Farms, a pig breeding farm in Utica, Minnesota, revealed egregious abuses. Footage captured by the nonprofit Animal Outlook showed workers feeding mother pigs a mixture of dead piglet body fluids and intestines. The investigation also documented brutal acts, such as workers regularly beating mother pigs, including some who were too sick or injured to walk. One investigator described Holden Farms as “a house of horrors.”
Factory farming not only harms animals but also poses serious risks to human health. Factory farms use antibiotics extensively to promote animal growth and prevent diseases amidst unsanitary conditions. This practice contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a growing public health concern that limits the effectiveness of crucial antibiotics for treating infections in humans. The crowded conditions of factory farms also precipitate the breeding and spreading of zoonotic disease. Outbreaks of diseases like bird and swine flu have been linked to factory farms, highlighting the potential for pandemics originating in these facilities. Intensive animal farming threatens public health at a global level.
The environmental harm caused by factory farms is equally troubling. Factory farms produce vast quantities of greenhouse gases from animal waste decomposition and the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers. These emissions are one of the leading contributors to climate change. Using animals, as opposed to plants, for food requires more land, water, and animal feed. The massive amounts of manure generated by factory farms often seep into freshwater systems, posing a threat to precious sources of clean water. Black, Indigenous, People of the Global Majority (BIPGM), and low-income populations are more likely to live in close proximity to factory farms and suffer disproportionately from the air and water pollution produced by animal agriculture.
Increasing public awareness of the harms of factory farms has led to a growing demand for change. Constituents are urging policymakers to adopt legislation for a more humane and sustainable future. In 2006, the European Union banned the use of antibiotics in animal feed, and in 2018, California became the first U.S. state to enact restrictions on antibiotics in animal feed. Locally, in 2022, the tribal council of the White Earth Nation placed a two-year moratorium on new factory farms on its reservation in Northern Minnesota.
Arguably, the most important legislative win for animals in recent years is California’s Proposition 12. This legislation, approved by California voters in 2018 and more recently upheld by the Supreme Court in 2022, establishes minimum space requirements for egg-laying hens, mother pigs, and calves raised for veal. The law also prohibits the in-state sale of meat and eggs that do not meet these requirements. Similar legislation to limit the extreme confinement of farmed animals has been passed in Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and six other states.
Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) is now part of a coalition working to create similar change in Minnesota. Visit exploreveg.org/sign to add your name to a petition that will tell legislators that Minnesotans want farmed animals to have enough space to stand up, turn around, and fully extend their limbs.
The plight of billions of animals suffering extreme cruelty in factory farms starkly contrasts with the lives of love and companionship of sisters Violet and Ophelia. But recent legislative changes give us reason to hope for a better future for animals. By tackling the factory farming problem, we can safeguard public health, protect precious ecosystems, and ensure that farmed animals live lives free from abuse.
With your participation, we can build a Minnesota where all human and non-human animals can thrive. Visit exploreveg.org/sign to take action today.
Julie Knopp (she/her) has been vegetarian for 20+ years. Attending a Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) event eight years ago inspired Julie to commit to an entirely plant-based diet and to start volunteering to advocate for animals. Today she serves on the board at CAA. In her free time, Julie likes to cook vegan Italian food, play pickleball, and hike in Minnesota State Parks.