Animal Welfare

 Last time we considered the relationship between humans and rice, but I wondered if the same could be said for the relationship between humans and animals (livestock), so today I'd like to think about that.

Humans cultivate rice for food, but from the rice's perspective, it could be said that it is thriving by being cultivated by humans. It has been overwhelmingly successful in increasing its numbers compared to wild plants by using humans. Humans are practically slaves to rice, aren't they? At least, that's what the rice might think.

Now, what about cows?

In exchange for supplying milk to humans, cows have been protected from carnivores by humans, and while other wild mammals have been steadily declining in number, cows have been able to increase their numbers. They have increased overwhelmingly. Humans think they have domesticated cows, but in reality, they are being used. Are humans servants of cows? In fact, in India, cows are considered sacred.

Are chickens also successfully increasing their numbers by using humans in exchange for supplying eggs?

Are sheep increasing their numbers under human protection in exchange for supplying wool to humans? In Australia, there are more sheep than people, right?

However, livestock are sometimes slaughtered and eaten for meat. That's sad, but has their population decreased? On the contrary, I think it's increased. Humans have tried to prevent their numbers from decreasing, or rather, have even tried to increase them, in order to eat them. Ultimately, their numbers have increased more than they can be eaten. It's the same as with rice.

So, are they happy? That's the question.

It's probably good for them that they no longer have to live in fear of being preyed upon by carnivores. They don't have to worry about food. That's the humans' job. However, being crammed into small spaces like broiler chickens is incredibly stressful and certainly not happy.

But when livestock are stressed, their immune systems weaken, making them more susceptible to disease. Bird flu is a prime example; tens of thousands of birds are culled at once. Isn't that a huge loss for humans too? Also, eggs from free-range animals, which experience less stress, taste better.

Ultimately, stress makes animals more susceptible to disease, and the taste deteriorates.

Animals, too, thrive in healthy, stress-free environments; their immune systems are stronger, they're less susceptible to disease, and their food tastes better.

Nowadays, animal welfare is a hot topic, but while it seems to be for the animals' benefit, doesn't the result directly impact humans? In other words, animal happiness is linked to human happiness. Conversely, even if they're livestock, if they're unhappy, stress can quickly lead to disease and mass extinction, or a decline in taste, which in turn makes humans unhappy.

We are all connected. Not just among people, but all life on Earth is connected. And the Earth is connected to the universe, and beyond that…

Guided by love and mercy

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