Factory Farms
In the cattle industry, beef and dairy cattle are often given hormones and feed supplements increase milk production and make beef cattle grow faster in order to make more money. The cows are often given injections and implants to increase production. These contain artificially high levels of sex and growth hormones. These hormones leave residues in milk and meat and are harmful to animals, humans, and the environment. These injections have not been properly tested and there are findings that these injections should not be used.
Manure from the hormone injected animals contaminates the environment, soil, earth surface and the groundwater. It has been found that exposure to hormones may be linked to breast and testicular cancers in humans. Other types of
hormones used include: Oestradiol, Progesterone and Testosterone which are naturally occurring and synthetic hormones called: Zeranol, Trenbolone, and Melengestrol. Another type of artificial growth hormone is melengestrol acetate and its residue remains traceable in the soil for up to 195 days after being given to the animals.
Antibiotics are given on a daily basis on factory farms because the animals are often kept in cramped dirty conditions which make them stressed and prone to sickness. The antibiotics also make them grow faster. The only reason the animals are given antibiotics is because the farmers are too lazy to care for them properly and they just want to make money. By giving the animals antibiotics it also creates antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the bacteria can reproduce in as little as twenty minutes so it leads to the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria to other animals and humans. This causes the medicine used to treat human diseases less effective and the costs of health care to rise for people because medicine no longer works.
The manure from these factory farms contain high levels of nitrogen that when combined with oxygen forms nitrite. High levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause infants to have methemoglobinemia or “blue baby syndrome”. If left untreated it can be fatal. Long-time exposure may also cause adults to suffer from diuresis, increased starchy deposits, and the hemorrhaging of the spleen. Animal manure can also carry multiple harmful pathogens including Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium parvum, E. coli, and Salmonella. Some of the pathogens might also cause mild illnesses such as cramps, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting. Pathogens can also cause fever, kidney failure and even death if not paid attention to. The people may develop serious or life-threatening infections if exposed to pathogens too much. The children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk. These pathogens can remain in the manure, soil, and water for weeks and sometimes months.
In the cattle industry, beef and dairy cattle are often given hormones and feed supplements increase milk production and make beef cattle grow faster in order to make more money. The cows are often given injections and implants to increase production. These contain artificially high levels of sex and growth hormones. These hormones leave residues in milk and meat and are harmful to animals, humans, and the environment. These injections have not been properly tested and there are findings that these injections should not be used.
Manure from the hormone injected animals contaminates the environment, soil, earth surface and the groundwater. It has been found that exposure to hormones may be linked to breast and testicular cancers in humans. Other types of
hormones used include: Oestradiol, Progesterone and Testosterone which are naturally occurring and synthetic hormones called: Zeranol, Trenbolone, and Melengestrol. Another type of artificial growth hormone is melengestrol acetate and its residue remains traceable in the soil for up to 195 days after being given to the animals.
Antibiotics are given on a daily basis on factory farms because the animals are often kept in cramped dirty conditions which make them stressed and prone to sickness. The antibiotics also make them grow faster. The only reason the animals are given antibiotics is because the farmers are too lazy to care for them properly and they just want to make money. By giving the animals antibiotics it also creates antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the bacteria can reproduce in as little as twenty minutes so it leads to the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria to other animals and humans. This causes the medicine used to treat human diseases less effective and the costs of health care to rise for people because medicine no longer works.
The manure from these factory farms contain high levels of nitrogen that when combined with oxygen forms nitrite. High levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause infants to have methemoglobinemia or “blue baby syndrome”. If left untreated it can be fatal. Long-time exposure may also cause adults to suffer from diuresis, increased starchy deposits, and the hemorrhaging of the spleen. Animal manure can also carry multiple harmful pathogens including Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium parvum, E. coli, and Salmonella. Some of the pathogens might also cause mild illnesses such as cramps, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting. Pathogens can also cause fever, kidney failure and even death if not paid attention to. The people may develop serious or life-threatening infections if exposed to pathogens too much. The children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk. These pathogens can remain in the manure, soil, and water for weeks and sometimes months.