Guest post by Illinois farmer Brian Duncan
From the time I could walk, I’ve worked with hogs. As I grew up at my father’s side I learned the joys and the frustrations of pork production and the subtle nuances of caring for what can sometimes be a cantankerous animal. Dad is gone now, but his farm continues on though a lot has changed.
Open lots and pastures have been replaced by environmentally controlled protective housing. Gone are the days of tossing feed to pens of animals hoping that the strong ones didn’t eat too much and the weak ones could somehow survive. Gone are the days of rummaging through piles of straw each morning to find the little pigs that had been crushed by their mothers. I no longer need to shovel a path through the snow to reach feeders and hope the temperature gets warm enough for the animals to come out and eat.
I’m part of an industry that has literally spent billions of dollars over recent decades improving the tools we use to produce pork. These changes were made with one goal in mind: providing better care for our animals. Perhaps that’s why I’m so frustrated by McDonald’s recent announcement that they will no longer purchase pork from suppliers who use the widely-accepted sow housing practice of gestation crates.
I used to keep my sows in pens like those McDonald’s and other politically correct folks wish us to use. I couldn’t control individual diets like I do now. I had to cull sows after two or three litters because they were too fat, too thin or injured by other sows. I used to struggle to give individual veterinary care to animals even to the point of risking personal injury to administer treatments or vaccinations.
Perhaps I could understand McDonald’s actions if they had science, research or experience to back their stance. However, there is no evidence that there is any better way to care for a sow than what is currently being used in most modern production systems. Unfortunately, the decision seems to be driven by emotion and perception regarding what makes for a “happy” pig while ignoring what research and experience tell what is truly in the animal’s best interest.
Perhaps what saddens me the most is I know the end result of an effective ban on gestation crates is more animal suffering and more risk to producers’ health and safety because of a seeming desire for political correctness. For over 40 years I’ve done everything within my control to give my animals the best care possible. I give thanks to our Creator each day I’m able to participate in this wonderful calling of livestock production. To now be told to do something that I know brings harm to the animals under my care is indeed a tough pill to swallow. Ultimately my hope is that the voices of the people with experience and expertise are heard and prevail on this issue so my dad’s grandchildren will be able to care for their animals using what they know are the best tools available.
Brian Duncan and his family operate a diversified grain and livestock farm north of Polo, Ill. He currently serves as president of the Ogle County Farm Bureau.
