Did you ever stop to consider the mentality of these animals? Chickens, turkeys, cattle and sheep are REALLY dumb. A tame turkey will actually drown in the rain, because he looks up to see where it's coming from.
The pigs are the only ones that have any sense. But they are not like the sweet little pot-belly pigs that people make pets of. They are mean and vicious animals who will eat ther young if they get in a bad mood. A sow with young will attack anyone or thing that startles her, and the boars...forget it.
We had a local farmer who had a heart attack while he was out slopping the hogs, and they ate him. True fact.
In Illinois, we have a lot of giant factory farms. Hogs are big business here. There are also many large poultry operations, and we have our fair share of cattle.
I must say, I have never been in a slaughter house, or visited the hog or chicken operations. And, really, I don't want to know.
I do much prefer the new pork to the old greasy, whangy stuff we used to get, but I think that's largly due to breeding and diet. We have friends that raise a few hogs, and they are mighty durned good.
On the other hand, I never cared for their chickens. They fed them a good diet, but I could still taste the grasshoppers.
I love the country eggs, but you have to be more careful with them. It really depends on how well the chickens are cared for. I've been in lovely little hen houses, with well-fed, happy hens, and it's a thrill to feel under the chickens and gather the eggs. I've also seen chickens that were not that well-tended. Nuff said.
I'd be the first one to fight cruelty to animals, but certain animals were put here for food..."the fowl of the air, the fish of the sea, and the cattle of the land". It is easy to feel bad about killing sweet bunnies or Bambi, but the way these creatures multiply is reason enough to know that they were intended for food.