Hog Farmers Do What’s Right To Provide Safe Food

As you slice into that Christmas ham in a couple of days, please remember that one of the country’s 60,000 hog farmers devoted a lot of time, energy and resources to provide you with that safe, wholesome and affordable pork. Also remember that those farmers gave a lot of care to every animal they raised.

That’s not what the public is hearing from animal-rights activists, though, and HOTH, for one, is tired of the untruths being told about farmers. Those activists have attacked pork production practices by argumentum ad populum (appeal to the people). It’s an attempt to win popular assent for a conclusion – in this case, claiming the practices are “cruel” – by arousing the feelings and enthusiasms of the masses, often by misinforming them.

But simply because many or most think or believe something is true doesn’t make it so.

Consider that at one time nearly the whole of humanity believed the sun revolved around the Earth. In the 17th century, Italian physicist Galileo Galilei was even condemned for proffering that it was the other way round.

America’s hog farmers are committed to producing safe, affordable and healthful foods for consumers, using practices that have been designed with input from veterinarians and other animal-care experts, with the well-being of pigs top of mind. Indeed, providing humane and compassionate care for their pigs at every stage of life is one of the ethical principles ingrained in farmers.

So while you enjoy your holiday feast know that many farmers will be out in their barns, making sure their pigs are warm and comfortable on a cold winter’s night. Enjoy the Yuletide!