Animal Agriculture Claims Nearly Ten Billion Victims in 2000

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ANIMAL AGRICULTURE CLAIMS NEARLY TEN BILLION VICTIMS IN 2000

 

The total number of mammals and birds raised and killed for food in the US

this year is expected to reach 9,890 million, according to extrapolation of

data published by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

This number represents an increase of 2.3% over 1999 figures. It includes

41.6 million cattle and calves (unchanged), 111.7 million pigs (down 5.6%),

5.4 million sheep (down 5.3%), 312 million turkeys (up 2%), 8,947 million

'broilers' (up 2.7%) 447 million laying hens (down 1%), and 25.6 million

ducks (up 2.8%).

 

The total include nearly one billion farmed animals who die from

mistreatment before ever reaching the slaughterhouse, but does not include

a staggering number of fish and other aquatic animals nor the smaller

number of wildlife killed for food.

 

In 1999, 9,664 million mammals and birds were raised and killed for food in

the US. This included 41.7 million cattle and calves, 118.3 million pigs,

5.7 million sheep and lambs, 306 mil-lion turkeys, 8,715.7 million

'broiler' chickens, 451 million laying hens, and 24.9 million ducks.

 

In addition to the 8,719 million animals slaughtered in 1999 according to

the NASS, another 945.3 million, or 9.8% of the total, suffered lingering

deaths from disease, malnutrition, injury, suffocation, stress,

extermination, or other deadly factory farming practices. Some of these

'other' deaths were reported by the NASS. But, most had to be deduced from

secondary sources, such as hatchery reports and interviews with

agricultural experts. Examples of the latter deaths apply to 'broiler'

chickens and turkeys who die before they are placed on a farm, male layer

chicks suffocated at birth, discarded layer hens, and piglets who die

before weaning.

 

In more personal terms, during a 75-year lifetime, a typical US resident is

responsible for the suffering and death of 11 cows, 32 pigs and sheep, 85

turkeys, 2,570 chickens and ducks, and uncounted numbers of fish and other

aquatic animals.

 

The 9,890 million animals raised and killed for food account for 98% of all

animals abused and killed annually in the US. Approximately 135 million

animals are killed for 'sport', 25 million are used in biomedical research

and testing, and 10 million are put down in pounds.

 

The worldwide number of animals killed for food in 1999 was 44.2 billion,

according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. This included 295

million cattle, buffalo, and calves, 1.1 billion pigs, 804 million sheep

and goats, and 42 billion chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. The figures

exclude some small countries and 'non-slaughter' deaths which are generally

not reported.

 

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This report on the number of victims of animal agriculture is compiled and

published each year by FARM in connection with the annual observance of

World Farm Animals Day on October 2 (Gandhi's birthday). FARM is a public

interest organization dedicated to exposing and ending animal abuse and

other devastating impacts of today's animal agriculture on environmental

quality, food resources, and public health. World Farm Animals Day is an

international observance promoting more humane, healthful, and sustainable

agricultural practices. This year's 18th annual observance focuses on

raising the awareness of candidates for public office and their

constituents to these issues.

 

END

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