It’s a real problem when standards for what is ethical treatment of animals are designed by people who don’t have a real working knowledge of that species. Finding the right person, with knowledge of the animals, understanding of what it means to run a real operation, and someone who does have real empathy for the animals that the world will trust on both sides is key.
Livestock operations are not and cannot be set up in the same way we deal with pets, not simply because of the economic aspects, but also because of behavior differences and infrastructure. Cows in my area don’t usually have manmade shelters. They aren’t used to them and would be stressed to be confined that way. It would be hard to have a building large enough to cover a whole herd, and that space would be taken from space that is currently in grass and trees. Many people who keep animals in my area are hours from an appropriate vet and have to be fairly self-sufficient in terms of supplies and skills.
Dealing with people who aren’t good at looking outside themselves or considering other ways of doing things makes everything more difficult. It’s a shame when someone is told to keep an older, failing horse behind the house so no one will see - by their veterinarian - to keep passers-by from making the situation more complicated. It’s a shame when people feel pressured to euthanize an animal that can be saved just so appearances can be maintained and the feelings of third parties are spared.
So when someone says ‘farmers have something to hide’ all I can say is just like some mother-in-laws find fault with everything they see and create havoc every time they visit, some people are like that with farms. I can’t blame someone for wanting to skip that kind of frustration.
Happy animals aren’t always the ones kept in the fanciest surroundings. Regulations can make things worse as well as better.
