Farm+Animal+Conditions+in+Latin+America



The Humane Society International (HSI) has been in Costa Rica trying to improve the conditions for farm animals, since 2004. One of the larger tasks that the HSI has been taking on is decreasing the stress and suffering level beef cattle go through before and during slaughter. Another issue at hand is the crowded and confined spaces for egg-laying hens and sows for breeding. HSI is also working with Costa Rica's Livestock Development Corporation (CORFOGA). Both organizations have come across better animal handling practices for before and during slaughter and have created training that is geared towards improving conditions for livestock. For the future, HSI plans/hopes to get standards put in place to ensure good care and conditions for farm animals, a hope to be a model for having top-of-the-line practices. There is even the goal to show that better animal welfare standards will alter in benefits for the industry and its consumers.



It is suggested that problems should be prevented, verses waiting for them to happen. Now, evidence from Brazil, Chile, and Uruaguay shows that currently, the use of better handling practices before slaughter, is resulting in less agressive handling and bruised meat from the cattle and pigs. On top of the farm having more good meat (not bruised) and therefore more profit, there will be a lower chance of bruised meat making it into the market and harming the image of the farm. Plus, people generally like meat that is from "humanely raised" livestock. Some animal welfare experts use the amount of cases of lameness, access to food and water, freestalls per 10 cows, animal behavior, body condition, and hock blisters/sores to assess the cattle herd health.

**__Stats__**
 * Led by Brazil, South America has rapidly emerged as the global leader in beef exports surpassing the $1 billion mark in 2001.
 * By 2007, Brazil had surpassed Australia as the largest beef exporter in the world on a value basis, with exports reaching $4.4 billion.
 * Argentina’s beef exports surpassed $1 billion in 2004 and Uruguay reached this mark in 2008.
 * In 2009, Brazil narrowly maintained its position as the world’s largest beef exporter, closely followed by Australia and the United States.

**__Sources__** http://www.hsi.org/world/latin_america/work/farm_animal_welfare/facts/farm_animal_welfare_latin_america.html http://www.humanespot.org/content/strategies-promote-farm-animal-welfare-latin-america-and-their-effects-carcass-and-meat-qual http://www.humanespot.org/taxonomy/term/78 http://www.beefissuesquarterly.com/southamericatheworldleaderinbeefexports.aspx (the stats are from here)

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