Comments on: The Other White Meat http://themoderatevoice.com/11506/the-other-white-meat/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:51:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: kritter http://themoderatevoice.com/11506/the-other-white-meat/comment-page-1/#comment-64035 kritter Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:41:46 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/the-other-white-meat/#comment-64035 Pigs are supposed to be the smartest of farm animals. That is why people love to keep the Vietnamese pot-bellied ones as pets- even though they are , well, overweight slobs. I read a story recently about a pet pig who saved a kid's life by putting her head into a charging pit bull's mouth. She lost part of her ear and would have lost more, if someone had not grabbed a shotgun and killed the pit bull. So think of that when you're eating your BLT, Austin. Pigs are supposed to be the smartest of farm animals. That is why people love to keep the Vietnamese pot-bellied ones as pets- even though they are , well, overweight slobs. I read a story recently about a pet pig who saved a kid’s life by putting her head into a charging pit bull’s mouth. She lost part of her ear and would have lost more, if someone had not grabbed a shotgun and killed the pit bull. So think of that when you’re eating your BLT, Austin.

]]> By: Lynx http://themoderatevoice.com/11506/the-other-white-meat/comment-page-1/#comment-63928 Lynx Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:54:23 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/the-other-white-meat/#comment-63928 As Rudi said, there's more than even just the ethical reason to not treat animals this way. In fact, widespread use of antibiotics in livestock is a very significant contributer to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Thanks to the way bacteria operate, this is not just a risk for livestock. Antibiotic resistance can be passed from one bacteria to another. Not every bacteria needs to develop it's own resistence. Resistence genes, even multiple resistence genes (to multiple antibiotics) can be passed through plasmids, small mobile pieces of DNA that can be copied and given to another bacteria; the bacterial equivalent on copying a DVD for a friend. Bacteria in animals resistent to antibiotics can help make bacteria in humans resistant. Besides, animals pumped up with hormones and antibiotics, in cages where they cannot move, besides being incredibly cruel to them, can hardly be expected to give good meat. Consider if it's not worth it to buy better (and ethically raised) meat less often, and compensate with more veggies and soy. You're body, and your tastebuds, will thank you! As Rudi said, there’s more than even just the ethical reason to not treat animals this way. In fact, widespread use of antibiotics in livestock is a very significant contributer to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Thanks to the way bacteria operate, this is not just a risk for livestock.

Antibiotic resistance can be passed from one bacteria to another. Not every bacteria needs to develop it’s own resistence. Resistence genes, even multiple resistence genes (to multiple antibiotics) can be passed through plasmids, small mobile pieces of DNA that can be copied and given to another bacteria; the bacterial equivalent on copying a DVD for a friend. Bacteria in animals resistent to antibiotics can help make bacteria in humans resistant.

Besides, animals pumped up with hormones and antibiotics, in cages where they cannot move, besides being incredibly cruel to them, can hardly be expected to give good meat. Consider if it’s not worth it to buy better (and ethically raised) meat less often, and compensate with more veggies and soy. You’re body, and your tastebuds, will thank you!

]]> By: AustinRoth http://themoderatevoice.com/11506/the-other-white-meat/comment-page-1/#comment-63811 AustinRoth Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:35:07 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/the-other-white-meat/#comment-63811 One order of BBQ back ribs, 2 pulled pork sandwiches, and a pound of smoked bacon to go, please. One order of BBQ back ribs, 2 pulled pork sandwiches, and a pound of smoked bacon to go, please.

]]> By: Rudi http://themoderatevoice.com/11506/the-other-white-meat/comment-page-1/#comment-63795 Rudi Thu, 15 Mar 2007 02:58:37 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/the-other-white-meat/#comment-63795 The use of antibiotics in the meat industry is contributing to increase in super microbes. The days of the family farm are over, welcome the corparate farm. Many farmers are just sharecroppers now. The use of antibiotics in the meat industry is contributing to increase in super microbes. The days of the family farm are over, welcome the corparate farm. Many farmers are just sharecroppers now.

]]> By: kritter http://themoderatevoice.com/11506/the-other-white-meat/comment-page-1/#comment-63776 kritter Thu, 15 Mar 2007 02:29:59 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/the-other-white-meat/#comment-63776 One reason that I decided to become a vegetarian. I can't contribute to this kind of cruelty to any animal. This sickens me. One reason that I decided to become a vegetarian. I can’t contribute to this kind of cruelty to any animal. This sickens me.

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