Background information for “Burning Down the Barn: Our Unstable Livestock and Poultry CAFO Culture”
Farm and Food File for the week beginning Sunday, Mary 14, 2023
Correction: The original Farm and Food File wording, “According to the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), 6 million chickens, 151,800 pigs, 194,400 turkeys and 192,400 cattle died in fires on U.S. farms between Jan. 2013 and Jan. 2022.” is incorrect. It should read: “According to the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), more than 6.4 million farm animals have died in barn fires between Jan. 2013 and May 2023, including more than 6 million chickens, 151,800 pigs, 192,400 turkeys, and 25,300 cattle.”
A fire kills 18,000 cows in Texas, Vox, April 14, 2023
Fire kills about 18,000 dairy cows in Texas, New York Times, April 13, 2023
State officials confirm dairy accidental, amarillo.com, April 17, 2023
‘Freak accident’ kills cattle, everythinglubbbock.com, April 20, 2023
How mega-dairies are killing are killing small farms, The Guardian, June 1, 2021
When I see these disasters hitting industrial size farms I have to wonder if this is divine punishment for human arrogance. Our inabilty to be happy/satisfied with a moderate (or family sized) endeavour leaves much damage to people, land and annimals.