Factory farming methods

The modem factory ferming methods, with poultry, swine, and other farm animals kept in confinement and in crowded conditions, has been condemned by animal rights activists. They claim that because the animals are often not able to perform their natural and instinctive behaviors, they are suffering. Animal science departments have been aware of these criticisms and have developed a new field of farm animal welfare. Faculty positions in the emerging field have been filled, and students are being introduced to tbe concepts. Animal welfare is being studied academically in a manner tbat is validated and measured objectively and, tberefore, is reliable. The discipline considers the relationship of ferm animal welfare to the animals environment in three areas how the animals feel, their fitness and health, and their namral behaviors. 

Commonly odour samples are taken in the morning, process conditions noted, and air flow rates, temperatures etc measured, followed in the afternoon by the odour strength measuring session. Odour strengths can vary greatly with process conditions, ventilation rates and production procedures and each sample is essentially only a snapshot picture . Therefore even with a rapid method of odour assessment, the total number of odour samples may be no more than the acceptable minimum required to investigate a particular factory or farming situation... 

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