If you’re looking for information about livestock panels, here’s what you need to know:
sibaide supply professional and honest service.
Quick Facts: Livestock Panels Standard Size: 16 ft x 50 in (cattle panel) Common Uses: Animal containment, corrals, temporary pens, garden structures Materials: Galvanized steel, various wire gauges (1-gauge to 6-gauge) Price Range: $29-$114 depending on size, type, and gauge Lifespan: 10+ years with proper maintenanceLivestock panels are versatile, portable fencing sections that have become essential tools for farmers, ranchers, and increasingly, homeowners. Originally designed for containing cattle and other farm animals, these rigid metal grid panels offer a perfect balance of strength, flexibility, and convenience.
When I first saw livestock panels in action at a neighbor’s small farm, I was amazed by how quickly they reconfigured their animal enclosures. What would have taken days with traditional fencing took mere hours with these pre-fabricated panels.
“Durable panels enclose cattle or livestock while eliminating rust and corrosion thanks to hot-dip galvanizing,” notes one manufacturer, highlighting their primary advantage: long-lasting performance in harsh outdoor conditions.
Unlike permanent fencing options, livestock panels can be installed without concrete footings, moved as needed, and repurposed for countless applications. From traditional uses like sorting pens and corrals to creative applications like garden trellises and decorative property fencing, these panels have found their way beyond the farm.
The most common types include cattle panels, hog panels, sheep/goat panels, and utility panels—each designed with specific spacing and height considerations for different animals. With prices ranging from around $29 for standard cattle panels to over $100 for specialized heavy-duty options, there’s a panel for every budget and purpose.
Whether you’re a rancher managing hundreds of cattle or a homeowner looking for a unique fencing solution, understanding the basics of livestock panels will help you make informed decisions about your containment needs.
Quick look at livestock panels:
Ever driven past a farm and noticed those sturdy metal grid sections containing cattle or creating neat pens? Those are livestock panels – one of the most versatile tools in modern farming and ranching. Unlike traditional fencing that demands post-hole digging and permanent installation, these pre-fabricated sections offer a “building block” approach to creating everything from simple pens to complex handling systems.
The typical benchmark panel you’ll see on most farms is about 16 feet long and 50 inches tall, weighing around 35 pounds for a standard cattle panel. But that’s just scratching the surface – these handy panels come in a remarkable variety of sizes and styles to suit almost any animal or purpose.
When shopping for livestock panels, you’ll encounter several specialized varieties, each designed with specific animals and situations in mind.
The workhorse of the bunch is the cattle panel, featuring 6″×8″ spacing and standing 50″ tall with 10 graduated horizontal lines. Built from 4-gauge or 5-gauge wire, these panels strike a nice balance between strength and affordability at $29-$32 from most farm suppliers.
If you’re working with horses, you’ll want horse panels instead. These taller panels (typically 60″) feature smaller 2″×4″ mesh spacing designed specifically to prevent curious hooves from getting trapped. They’re heavier too – weighing 80-100 pounds for a standard 5’×16′ section – and priced accordingly at $87-$115.
For smaller livestock, hog panels stand 34″ tall with narrower spacing at the bottom to keep escape artists contained. A standard 16’×34″ panel weighs about 34 pounds and costs around $29.45. Similarly, sheep/goat panels feature tight 4″×4″ spacing to prevent nimble small ruminants from squeezing through, typically measuring 16’×48″.
Working with multiple species? Combo panels offer graduated spacing – tighter at the bottom, wider at the top – making them versatile for various animals. And if you’re dealing with particularly powerful animals, bull panels provide extra-heavy duty construction with 1-gauge material standing 60″ tall, weighing about 82 pounds per 16′ section and priced around $93.45.
The lineup also includes specialized options like walk-through panels (with built-in handler access gates), feeder panels (designed to reduce feed waste), and sheeted panels that incorporate solid metal sections for wind protection or visual barriers.
The backbone of any good livestock panel is quality materials and solid construction.
Wire thickness is measured in gauge numbers, with lower numbers indicating thicker, stronger wire. Most cattle panels use 4-gauge or 5-gauge wire, while heavy-duty bull panels might use substantial 1-gauge material. If you’re looking at economy panels, be aware they often use 6-gauge or lighter wire, which may not stand up to determined animals.
A panel’s lifespan largely depends on its rust protection. Hot-dip galvanizing is the gold standard – this process completely immerses the panel in molten zinc, creating a protective coating that dramatically extends its useful life. The best manufacturers galvanize after welding to ensure even the cut edges and weld points are protected.
Tubular panels (like corral panels) vary in strength based on tubing diameter. Standard panels typically use 1⅜” to 1⅝” tubing for legs and ¾” to 1″ for rails, while premium “Husky” panels might use 1⅝” diameter tubing throughout for maximum strength.
Don’t overlook weld quality – those little connection points where vertical and horizontal elements meet determine how long your panel will maintain its shape under pressure.
Choosing the right livestock panels starts with understanding standard dimensions and how they relate to your specific needs.
Most panels come in 8′, 10′, 12′, or 16′ lengths, with 16′ being the most common for cattle panels. (Fun fact: the actual length is often 1″ less than advertised – a 12′ panel typically measures 11’11”.)
Heights range from 34″ for hog panels to 50″ for standard cattle panels, with horse and bull panels stretching to 60″ or taller. For specialized applications like bison handling or rodeo stock, panels can reach a towering 7′ tall.
Mesh spacing varies significantly by panel type. Standard cattle panels feature 6″×8″ openings, while horse panels use smaller 2″×4″ spacing to keep hooves safe. Panels designed for smaller animals often have graduated spacing – tighter at the bottom (sometimes as small as 2″×4″) and wider toward the top.
Panel weight directly impacts portability and installation ease. A standard 16′ cattle panel weighs about 35 pounds – manageable for one person – while a heavy-duty 16’×7′ sheeted panel might tip the scales at 585 pounds, requiring equipment to move.
When selecting panels for your farm or ranch, consider:
Animal type determines your minimum height requirements. Cattle need at least 50″ panels, horses generally require 60″, while most sheep and goats can be contained with 48″ panels (unless they’re jumpers).
Pressure level matters too – sorting pens and crowding areas need heavier gauge panels than simple perimeter fencing.
Permanence affects your choice as well. Temporary enclosures benefit from lighter, more portable panels, while permanent installations warrant investing in heavier options.
Don’t forget to consider handler access – integrated walk-through gates can save tremendous time if you’ll be entering the enclosure frequently.
For proper installation, place posts at panel junctions, and for 16′ panels, add an additional T-post in the middle to prevent bowing under pressure.
When I first started working with livestock panels, I was amazed by how these simple metal grids could be so adaptable across my small farm. Whether you’re managing a hundred-head cattle operation or just keeping a few goats in your backyard, choosing the right panel can make all the difference in your daily farm life.
Cattle are powerful animals that test the limits of any containment system. Standard cattle panels with their 50″ height and 6″×8″ spacing work beautifully for most adult cattle, especially when you choose hot-dip galvanized versions that stand up to their considerable weight and pressure. However, I’ve learned the hard way that economy panels can quickly bend when a determined heifer decides to test boundaries. For general use, a 16’×50″ 4-gauge cattle panel is your best bet, but if you’re housing breeding bulls or particularly aggressive animals, invest in the heavier 1-gauge bull panels – your future self will thank you.
Horses require special consideration for safety. Unlike cattle, horses can easily trap a hoof in standard panel spacing, potentially causing serious injury. That’s why horse-specific panels with 2″×4″ spacing and taller 60″ heights are worth their extra weight (80-100 lbs) and cost ($87-$115). The rounded edges on quality horse panels provide additional protection against cuts and scrapes for these sensitive animals. As my neighbor once said after switching to proper horse panels, “I sleep better knowing my mare can’t get her legs caught anymore.”
Goats are the escape artists of the farm world. I’ve watched in amazement as kids squeezed through openings I would have sworn were too small. For these clever creatures, combo or sheep/goat panels with graduated spacing (tighter at the bottom) are essential. Standard cattle panels might as well be open gates for young kids. Another challenge with goats is their tendency to climb and rub against fencing, which can cause premature wear. A 16’×48″ sheep/goat panel with 4″×4″ spacing at the bottom provides the best containment while offering the flexibility to create temporary kidding pens when needed.
Sheep share many containment needs with goats, benefiting from graduated spacing that keeps lambs secure. One unique consideration is that sheep wool can catch on rough edges or welds, potentially injuring the animal or damaging valuable fleece. For this reason, smooth, well-finished panels are worth the investment. Sheep also have a surprising ability to push against panels when grouped together, so proper anchoring is crucial. A 42″×16′ galvanized sheep and goat panel creates excellent lambing jugs when needed and provides secure everyday containment.
Hogs combine incredible strength with a natural instinct to root under barriers. Their low center of gravity and powerful necks make them challenging to contain, but properly selected livestock panels are up to the task. Hog panels with tight bottom spacing prevent escape of even the smallest piglets. At 34″ tall, these panels are shorter than cattle or horse versions, making them more economical while still being perfectly functional for swine. The 16’×34″ hog feedlot panel with graduated spacing offers the best combination of security and value for most pig operations.
Beyond basic animal containment, livestock panels have become my go-to solution for countless farm challenges. Their versatility might be their greatest asset.
When training young horses, connecting multiple panels into a round pen creates the perfect controlled environment. A 40-foot round pen (including a 4′ gate) costs approximately $775 in panels, while a 60-foot version runs about $1,135 – both significantly less expensive than purpose-built round pens.
During calving or kidding season, these panels quickly transform into protective birthing areas. I’ve used four panels to create a 8’×8′ calving pen in minutes, providing a safe space for new mothers and their vulnerable offspring.
Hay protection is another brilliant use – arranging panels around hay stacks allows animals to feed while preventing them from trampling or soiling the valuable feed. This setup has saved me countless dollars in wasted hay over the years.
Gardeners have finded the magic of livestock panels too. Bent into arches, cattle panels create sturdy trellises for climbing plants. My cucumber yields doubled the year I switched to this system, with the added benefit that harvesting became much easier with fruit hanging at eye level.
For those practicing rotational grazing, lightweight panels create temporary paddocks that can be shifted daily or weekly, maximizing pasture utilization while minimizing environmental impact. Similarly, panels can quickly form efficient livestock handling systems, including crowding pens and loading areas.
Here in the Austin area, we’ve seen a creative trend of using panels as decorative yet functional property boundaries. These installations maintain a charming rural aesthetic while providing practical containment – particularly popular in Cedar Park and Liberty Hill where homeowners want country charm with modern function.
As one customer shared about their quick goat pen solution: “I laid out two 16′ cattle panels in an L-shape against my existing fence, secured them with T-posts, and used a pallet as a gate. It took less than an hour and has contained my doelings perfectly.” This kind of simple, effective solution is why livestock panels have become essential tools for modern farmers and homesteaders alike.
For more inspiration on creative uses, check out this thread on pens using cattle panels from fellow livestock owners, or explore cattle panel fence ideas and guide for design inspiration.
So you’ve decided which livestock panels will work best for your property—great! Now comes the fun part (well, at least for those of us who enjoy a good outdoor project). Let’s talk about how to purchase wisely, install properly, and maintain these versatile farm essentials so they’ll serve you faithfully for years to come.
Setting up your livestock panels doesn’t have to be complicated, but a little planning goes a long way.
Before you even purchase your first panel, grab a notepad and sketch out your intended layout. Mark where gates will go, identify corner points, and plan access areas. This simple step has saved me countless trips back to the farm store!
For a proper installation, you’ll need some basic tools: T-posts (plan for one at each panel junction plus one in the middle of each 16′ panel), a T-post driver (your back will thank you), wire cutters, pliers, heavy-duty gloves to protect your hands, and either T-post clips or heavy-gauge wire for securing everything.
When it comes to the actual installation, start by driving your T-posts at least 18 inches into the ground. For corners or ends where more strength is needed, opt for sturdier wood or metal posts. Once your posts are in place, stand your panels upright against them and secure with clips or wire. Don’t forget that middle T-post for longer panels—it prevents bowing when animals lean against the fence.
“Adding a T-post in the center of a 16′ cattle panel greatly improves rigidity and prevents bending, even with full-sized cattle pushing against it,” shared a rancher I met at a local agricultural fair. It’s simple advice that can save you from costly panel replacements down the road.
Safety should always be a priority when handling these metal panels. Always wear gloves (those wire ends can be surprisingly sharp), use proper lifting technique, and be mindful of pinch points when connecting panels together. Taking a few extra minutes to file down any sharp edges will protect both you and your animals from injury.
When budgeting for your livestock panels, you’ll quickly find there’s quite a range in pricing. Understanding what drives these differences helps you make smarter purchasing decisions.
Panel grades significantly impact price. Economy panels with lighter gauge wire might cost $29-$35 for standard sizes—perfect for light-duty applications or temporary setups. Standard panels with medium gauge wire and good galvanizing typically run $35-$75 depending on size, offering a solid balance of durability and value. For containing powerful animals or high-pressure areas, heavy-duty panels with the thickest gauge wire and premium galvanizing command $75-$300+.
The material thickness matters tremendously. Wire gauge works backward—lower numbers mean thicker, stronger, and more expensive wire. Similarly, panels with larger diameter tubing cost more but offer greater strength. The quality of galvanization also affects both price and longevity—panels galvanized after fabrication (rather than before) provide better rust protection but at a higher cost.
Size and specialization naturally influence price too. A standard 16’×50″ cattle panel typically costs about $30, while a specialized 5’×16′ horse fence panel with smaller openings might run $87-$115. Heavy-duty bull panels can exceed $93 for a single 16’×60″ section.
If you’re planning a larger project, like a round pen, expect to invest around $775 for a 40′ diameter setup with a gate, or $1,135-$1,925 for a 60′ diameter pen depending on the grade you choose.
Don’t forget to factor in shipping—these heavy items can incur significant freight charges. Local pickup often saves money if you have suitable transportation. And for the budget-conscious, used panels typically sell for 50-75% of new prices if they’re in good condition, though you’ll want to inspect carefully for bends, rust, and broken welds.
With a little attention, your investment in livestock panels can last well over a decade, even in challenging weather conditions.
I recommend establishing a seasonal maintenance routine. Spring and fall are perfect times to walk your fence line, checking for damage, rust spots, or connections that have worked loose over time. Pay special attention to posts that might have shifted during freeze/thaw cycles, and clear away any vegetation growing through the panels that could cause bending over time.
Rust is the natural enemy of metal fencing, but it’s easily managed with vigilance. Keep a can of zinc-rich paint handy to touch up any scratches or worn areas before rust can take hold. For panels at ground level where moisture is constant, consider periodically relocating them or adding a sacrificial board along the bottom.
Safety checks should be part of your routine too. File down any sharp points that develop, especially at connection points or cuts. Regularly check for gaps developing between panels that could trap curious animals—particularly important if you have young stock.
One of the smartest investments you can make is adding an offset electric wire along your panel fence line. As an experienced rancher told me, “I’ve had the same set of hot-dip galvanized cattle panels for over 15 years. The key has been adding that offset hot wire to keep the animals from pushing directly against them, and touching up any scratches immediately with cold galvanizing spray.”
For more Livestock Panels factoryinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
In areas with extreme weather, take additional precautions. Check for ground heaving after winter that may affect panel alignment, provide extra bracing in locations that experience heavy snow loads, and in hot climates, allow some flexibility at connection points to accommodate thermal expansion.
For more information about creating beautiful, functional fencing solutions using cattle panels, check out these helpful resources: Cattle Panel Fence Ideas and Guide and Prop 65 livestock fence safety for important safety considerations.
When I talk with ranchers and homesteaders about fencing options, the conversation inevitably turns to comparing livestock panels with other systems. Each has its place, but understanding the differences helps you make smarter decisions for your property.
There’s something incredibly satisfying about the versatility of livestock panels – they solve problems that other fencing systems simply can’t handle.
During emergency situations, nothing beats the rapid deployment of panels. After a severe thunderstorm tore through a client’s property near Dripping Springs last year, we helped them establish temporary containment within hours using cattle panels. Their permanent fencing would have taken weeks to repair.
Rental property owners particularly appreciate panels. As one Cedar Park customer told me, “I can create beautiful, functional enclosures without violating my lease agreement, then take everything with me when I move.”
The flexibility of livestock panels makes them perfect for small acreage management. Urban homesteaders with just a couple acres can reconfigure their space as needed – creating a kidding area in spring, a garden barrier in summer, and a hay feeding station in winter, all with the same panels.
For high-pressure containment areas, panels often outperform other options. Around water troughs, in sorting pens, or for bull paddocks, the strength-to-weight ratio of a good panel system is hard to beat. One rancher in Liberty Hill shared: “After a tornado damaged our permanent fencing, we used cattle panels as a quick solution. They worked so well that we kept them in place for certain areas where we need flexibility.”
Beyond simple containment, livestock panels can transform how efficiently your property functions.
The modular nature of panels means you’re never locked into a single configuration. Need to separate animals quickly? Create a temporary division. Herd size growing? Add more panels to expand your area. This adaptability saves both time and money compared to modifying permanent fencing.
Labor savings alone can justify the investment in panels. While installing barbed wire or pipe fencing typically requires a crew, most panel systems can be managed by one or two people. When a client in Leander needed to create a working system for their small cattle operation, two people installed a complete sorting area with panels in a single afternoon.
I’ve seen how panels improve animal flow and reduce stress during handling. The solid visual barrier helps guide livestock more effectively than wire fencing, and the ability to quickly reconfigure the system means you can adapt to what works best for your specific animals.
After weather events, livestock panels truly shine. Following the flooding we experienced in Central Texas a few years back, many ranchers used panels to quickly restore containment while permanent repairs were underway. The speed of deployment literally saved livestock lives.
When comparing fencing options, consider how each system performs across different criteria:
Fence Type Initial Cost Installation Time Durability Flexibility Maintenance Livestock Panels Medium Very Fast High Excellent Low Barbed Wire Low Medium Medium Poor Medium Woven Wire Medium Slow Medium Poor Medium Electric Low Medium Low Good High Wood Board High Very Slow Medium Poor High Pipe Fence Very High Slow Very High Poor Very LowHere in the Austin area, we’ve watched ranchers transform their operations using strategic panel placement for rotational grazing systems. This approach allows them to maximize forage utilization without installing multiple permanent paddocks – a perfect example of how livestock panels can improve efficiency while reducing overall fencing costs.
For properties where aesthetics matter alongside function, the clean lines of panels offer a more visually appealing option than traditional farm fencing. This has become especially important for the growing number of cattle panel fence designs that blend agricultural functionality with residential appeal.
When I built my first round pen, figuring out the panel count was my biggest headache! For a 60-foot diameter round pen, you’ll need about 12-14 standard 16-foot panels, plus a gate panel.
Here’s the simple math: multiply your 60-foot diameter by pi (3.14) to get the circumference of 188.4 feet. Divide that by your 16-foot panel length, and you get approximately 11.78 panels. Round up to 12 and add your gate panel, bringing you to 13 panels total.
If you’re shopping for a complete kit, most commercial 60′ round pen packages include 12 regular panels plus a gate panel with all the hardware you’ll need. Price-wise, expect to pay around $1,135 for utility-grade panels or up to $1,925 if you opt for the heavy-duty “Husky” grade that can take more punishment.
Oh yes, they absolutely can! I learned this lesson the hard way when half my neighbor’s kids (baby goats, not children!) ended up in my garden after squeezing through my cattle panels.
The 6″×8″ openings in livestock panels designed for cattle are practically an invitation for young goats, kids, and lambs to play “escape artist.” While your adult sheep and most grown goats will stay put, the little ones see those openings as doorways to trip.
For proper containment of all ages and sizes, you have several options:
As one experienced goat owner shared: “My full-grown Boer does stay in with cattle panels, but the kids slip right through until they’re about 3-4 months old. I use the sheep and goat panels with the smaller openings at the bottom for my kidding pens.”
Installing livestock panels doesn’t require specialized equipment, but having the right tools makes the job safer and more efficient.
For a basic installation, you’ll want a T-post driver (your back will thank you!), heavy-duty gloves to protect your hands, wire cutters, pliers, a measuring tape, level, and a hammer. These essentials will get you through most standard installations.
Materials-wise, gather T-posts (plan for one at each panel junction and one in the middle of each panel to prevent bowing), T-post clips or heavy wire for securing panels, panel connectors or hog rings for joining sections, and sturdier corner posts (wood or metal) for added stability at turns.
If you’re planning a more permanent setup, consider adding a post hole digger for corner posts, concrete mix to secure those corners, and possibly a skid-steer or tractor if you’re handling the heavier panel varieties. Bolt cutters come in handy for custom sizing, and zip ties work great for temporary connections.
Safety should never be an afterthought. Steel-toed boots, work gloves, safety glasses, and a back brace for lifting heavy panels will help prevent injuries. And speaking of lifting – don’t go it alone! Proper installation requires at least two people for standard panels, and three or more pairs of hands for the heavier horse panels or bull panels.
A few extra minutes of preparation can save hours of frustration and potential injury when working with these substantial panels.
After exploring livestock panels, it’s clear why they’ve become essential tools for so many farmers, ranchers, and property owners. These versatile steel workhorses offer a perfect balance of strength and flexibility that few other fencing options can match.
I’ve seen how the right panels can transform a property’s functionality. A quality set of livestock panels might represent a significant upfront investment, but when you consider their 10+ year lifespan and incredible adaptability, they quickly prove their worth. From containing your most powerful bull to creating a charming garden trellis, these panels earn their keep many times over.
The key to success with livestock panels lies in matching the right panel to your specific needs. Taking time to consider your animals, your land, and your long-term goals will help you select panels that work for you rather than against you. Heavier gauge doesn’t always mean better—it means appropriate for certain applications where strength is paramount.
What continues to impress me about livestock panels is their problem-solving versatility. When a storm damages your permanent fence, they provide immediate security. When your farm layout needs to evolve, they move right along with you. When kidding season arrives, they transform into perfect birthing jugs. This adaptability makes them particularly valuable for properties in Central Texas, where changing weather and diverse agricultural needs demand flexible solutions.
Here in the Austin area, we’re seeing more creative applications of these panels than ever before. Property owners in Cedar Park and Leander are finding that livestock panels can create boundaries that are both practical and visually appealing, especially when incorporated into thoughtful landscape designs.
At B.C. Fence Austin, we’ve helped countless property owners throughout Austin, Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill, Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Lago Vista, and Jonestown find the perfect panel solutions for their unique needs. Our team specializes in blending the practical strength of livestock panels with designs that improve your property’s beauty and value.
Whether you’re managing a working ranch or simply want a distinctive fence that stands apart from your neighbors, we understand how to make livestock panels work for your specific situation. For more inspiration and information about incorporating livestock panels into your fencing project, explore our decorative cattle panel services or reach out to our team.
Factory farming is a type of farming in which animals are raised and crowded together in close quarters. The animals are referred to as livestock and the farms are also called concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
Intensive agriculture developed in earnest beginning in the 17th century in Britain, with developments such as more intensive crop rotation which allowed more animals to be fed and raised. Efficiency increased through the 18th and 19th centuries, which saw the rise of selective breeding in livestock for desirable traits such as longer wool in sheep. The current system of factory farming dominated U.S. agriculture by the s. This process has made meat more affordable for the average American and increased efficiency. Since , milk production has doubled in the U.S., meat production has tripled and egg production has quadrupled. However, the profits from agriculture have become concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. Between and , the number of farms in the U.S. declined by 50 percent, while the average farm doubled in size. Today, more than 99 percent of U.S. farm animals and more than 90 percent of farm animals worldwide are raised on factory farms.
Factory farms are the primary means of raising animals like cows, pigs, chicken and fish. In addition to meat, factory farms are also used to raise animals for milk, eggs and fur. A medium-large factory farm in the U.S. usually consists of 1,000 beef cattle, 700 dairy cows, 2,500 pigs, 55,000 turkeys, 30,000 egg-laying hens, or 125,000 broiler chickens. Control of these farms are concentrated in very few hands. As of , the four largest companies in each sector controlled 85 percent of U.S. beef production, 66 percent of pork production and 51 percent of broiler chicken production. However, the companies do not typically handle the farming themselves, which is considered the least-lucrative part of the production process. Instead, they contract the farming out to individuals who usually have to go into large amounts of debt to get started and can therefore get trapped in unfavorable contracts, risking bankruptcy if they quit. This method was pioneered by Tyson Foods and first came to dominate chicken production. It is now widely used in pork production as well.
Animals on factory farms are raised to be productive as quickly as possible. They spend their entire lives crowded together indoors, and are either physically mutilated or genetically modified to better accommodate human tastes and close quarters. For example, chickens are debeaked to prevent them from pecking each other and broiler chickens are genetically modified to have larger breasts, since consumers prefer breast meat. Cows and pigs will have their tails removed, or be docked, to discourage biting and to make milking easier. Cows are grown without horns to make it easier to pack them closely together.
Many consider the crowded conditions faced by animals in factory farms to be inherently inhumane. In addition, this method of farming has consequences for human health and the environment in the form of biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, working conditions and disease risk.
Animal abuse on factory farms can be divided into two types: systemic cruelty and egregious cruelty. Systemic cruelty refers to the business-as-usual conditions within factory farms, which animal welfare advocates consider to be inherently cruel. Egregious cruelty refers to specific acts of abuse by farmworkers. While the first type of cruelty is more pervasive, only the second is often prosecuted by law. However, egregious cruelty can also be encouraged and enabled by systemic realities. Ag-gag laws, for example, penalize activists and whistleblowers for documenting incidences of animal cruelty at factory farms. Further, U.S. animal protection laws generally do not apply to either birds or fish. Systemic abuses facing factory farmed animals vary slightly depending on the animal, but all suffer from spending lives confined in close quarters.
Nearly ten times more birds are raised and killed for food in the U.S. than any other type of animal. Chickens raised for meat are referred to as broiler chickens. They are often crowded together in groups of 20,000 or more. Poor ventilation means the birds are at risk from ammonia exposure from their own waste, which irritates their eyes, throats and skin. Egg-laying hens do not fare much better. They are kept in containers called battery cages, which have a smaller area than an eight-and-a-half-by-11 sheet of paper. This is considered so cruel that it was actually banned by the European Union in .
Pigs are as smart as dogs and have a natural impulse to root and socialize. However, they are often kept in indoor pens on slatted floors that do not allow these activities. The frustration leads pigs to bite each other’s tails, and farmers deal with this by clipping off part of the pigs’ tails or their teeth without anesthetics. Pregnant sows in particular suffer in gestation crates, which cause them to lose bone strength and muscle mass because their movement is so restricted. This makes it more likely that they will fall and injure themselves.
Beef cattle are the one farm animal that is still largely raised outdoors. However, they spend the last few months of their lives in feedlots, crowded together but without shelter. They can suffer from heat stress, respiratory problems from dust and digestive problems from being fed corn and other foods they have not evolved to digest. Milk cows, on the other hand, are kept indoors and often tethered. They are artificially inseminated once a year to keep the milk flowing, and then forcibly separated from their calves within a day of giving birth, which can be traumatic for both mother and child. Male calves are then raised as veal, often in crates only 2.1 by 2.5 feet. However, many states are beginning to ban veal crates and the industry is following with promises to phase out their use.
Fish farming is one of the fastest growing forms of agriculture, and about half of the most commonly eaten fish are now raised in farms. Fish are also kept in crowded conditions that encourage stress, injury and disease. Further, fish suffer from the misconception that they do not feel pain. They are killed without being stunned first — either by force, suffocation, freezing or being allowed to bleed out.
In addition to harming the farm animals themselves, factory farming also takes a toll on the planet as a whole. In fact, the practice contributes to many of our most pressing environmental crises including pollution, habitat and biodiversity loss and the climate crisis.
The conditions animals face at factory farms extend to their surroundings. So many animals kept in close quarters generate lots of manure, and this manure is first stored in ponds and then spread on fields as fertilizer. However, environmental advocates say that these farms generate more manure than the soil can actually handle, and the rest enters waterways as runoff. This can lead to nutrient pollution, which encourages the growth of harmful algae that deprives water of oxygen, causing dead zones where no life can flourish. In fact, factory farming was blamed for the largest-ever “dead zone” in U.S. history in the Gulf of Mexico. Pollutants from animal waste such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia can also enter the air and threaten the health and well being of farmworkers and the surrounding community.
Animals raised for human consumption also need to eat. Usually, that food takes the form of either corn or soy, and growing it uses up a lot of land. In the U.S., in fact, corn and soy take up a third of the country’s agricultural land, and humans only consume less than 10 percent of it. This is an issue that has major global ramifications. Without meat and dairy consumption, it would be possible to feed the world’s population while reducing farmland by more than 75 percent. And the expansion of factory farming is a major cause of biodiversity loss. Clearing trees for cattle ranching is responsible for two-thirds of Amazon deforestation. The production of soy to feed livestock is also a major contributor to deforestation.
Emissions and land use mean that factory farming is a major contributor to the climate crisis. The livestock sector as a whole is responsible for 14.5 percent global greenhouse gas emissions. Forty-five percent of those emissions come from feed production and processing and 39 percent from the release of methane by cows and other ruminants. The world’s five biggest meat and dairy companies have an equal carbon footprint to ExxonMobil, and the world’s top 20 livestock companies emit more than the UK, France or Germany.
The coronavirus pandemic has shown a spotlight on how human exploitation of the environment puts human health at risk. Factory farming is a perfect example of this as it threatens human health in many ways, from encouraging the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria to spreading pandemics.
The overcrowding in factory farms has led to an overuse of antibiotics in order to prevent disease from spreading among animals. In fact, 73 percent of antibiotics worldwide are used on animals. In , almost 11 million kilograms of antibiotics and 5.6 million kilograms of medically important antibiotics were sold in the U.S.exclusively for animals in factory farms. Bacteria can develop resistance to these drugs and then spread from animals to humans both through consumption and through run-off pollution from manure. Drug resistant bacteria currently kill 700,000 people a year.
Factory farming can encourage the spread of pandemics in two ways. First of all, the destruction of wild areas for agriculture increases the chance that humans will come into contact with new pathogens. Further, crowded conditions on farms cultivate diseases that may develop and spread. The H1N1 swine flu that killed 151,700 to 575,400 people in has been linked to a strain that emerged on U.S. pig farms in .
The conditions on factory farms can harm human health in other ways. Pathogens like E. coli can infect humans through manure pollution or food-borne illness. In fact, the grain beef cattle are fed before slaughter increases their risk of E. coli infection, while the practice of feeding dead hens to live hens encourages Salmonella. Further, there is debate over whether the use of hormones to stimulate growth and milk production in cows increases the risk of breast, prostate and colon cancer in humans.
The factory farm system doesn’t just exploit animals and the planet — it also exploits the humans that work in the industry and the communities that surround it. Factory farming is often an example of environmental racism, in which low-income communities of color are targeted for exposure to unsafe conditions and pollutants.
Many slaughterhouse workers are low-income people of color who do not have many other employment options. Often they are undocumented and face deportation if they speak out about working conditions. The work can be stressful and dangerous. Workers can repeat the same motion 40,000 to 100,000 times per shift, and there are an average of two amputations per month in the industry. The vulnerability of these workers was made apparent during the coronavirus pandemic, when infections broke out at several meat packing plants in the U.S. and Canada. In July of , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that 23 states reported 16,233 COVID-19 cases and 86 deaths in 239 facilities, while 87% of those infected were racial or ethnic minorities.
The rise of factory farming has diminished rural communities in the U.S. Smaller family farms cannot compete with the larger operations, and mechanized agriculture means that they offer fewer jobs. Further, the smaller businesses that supported family farms, like equipment sellers or local restaurants, have also closed down. For those who remain, conditions are often unhealthy. Pollution from lagoons storing animal waste can cause health impacts like headaches, respiratory problems, skin infections, birth defects and premature death. For example, people in North Carolina who live near hog farms have higher death rates than people who live further away.
In the U.S., a few types of factory farming are concentrated in particular states and regions. Hog farming is concentrated in the U.S. South and Midwest, particularly North Carolina and Iowa. Broiler chicken farming is heavily concentrated on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, while the top states for cattle feedlots are Nebraska, Texas, Kansas, Iowa and Colorado. Worldwide China is the world’s leading meat producer, followed by the U.S., the EU and Brazil. China has rapidly expanded its pork production in particular, and this includes pork factory farms. In the last 30 years, the country has undergone a similar process of consolidation as the U.S did during the second half of the 21st century: Between and , the total number of hog farms in China decreased by 70 percent, while the number of pigs living on those farms increased exponentially.
There is a growing movement to shift away from the factory farming model and towards more humane and sustainable forms of agriculture. In the U.S., Sen. Cory Booker has championed a Farm System Reform Act, which he most recently reintroduced in July.
This act would:
Internationally, Compassion in World Farming has called for a global agreement to end industrial agriculture, similar to the Paris agreement for tackling climate change.
There are also several organizations working to protect farm animals and promote change. Mercy for Animals conducts investigations in order to expose conditions on factory farms, while Farm Sanctuary rescues animals and provides them with safe homes.
In addition to supporting organizations that fight for animal welfare and adding your voice to calls for change, there are also lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your support for factory farms. One study has found that embracing a vegan diet is the single greatest thing an individual can do to reduce their environmental footprint. However, you can still shop and eat ethically without giving up animal products. Compassion in World Farming offers a four-step guide:
Transitioning away from factory farming towards a more sustainable, compassionate and healthy agricultural system is a major part of solving the health and environmental crises impacting our planet and our communities. However, meat production and consumption have been rising worldwide since the s, and they are expected to continue to do so if nothing changes. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicts that global meat production will continue to grow, by 40 million tonnes a year by . Public policies and consumer behavior can both play a role in reversing this trend and creating a kinder, healthier food system.
Are you interested in learning more about China Star Pickets manufacturer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!