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David Zapata
Lynda Haas
Writing 37
29 January 2015
The Treatment of Cattle in the Industry
Although beef is one of the most widely consumed foods in the United States, not many
people know the truth behind the treatment of cattle. The beef industry is widely condoned by
various animal activist groups due to alleged inhumane practices. But how valid are these
accusations? Dr. Marybeth Feutz, a large animal veterinarian and cattle farmer, claims that not all
cattle are treated poorly like most accusations proclaim. On the contrast, Paul Solotaroff of the
Rolling Stone magazine and the Food Empowerment Project claim that the beef industry has
gone too far in their inhumane treatment of cattle. Michael Pollan of the New York Times has
firsthand seen the process cattle go through from the early stages of a calf to it slaughter and
conversion to meat at a slaughterhouse. The treatment of cattle in the industry is examined by
these authors through firsthand experiences and facts that reveal the how cattle are treated as
they are raised in the feedlots, as well as their treatment in the actual slaughterhouses moments
before their deaths.
The living conditions of cattle at the feedlots are discussed by Feutz and the Food
Empowerment Project, with Feutz claiming that the conditions are humane and the Food
Empowerment Project claiming that cattle are mistreated. Marybeth Feutz is a large animal
veterinarian and a cattle farmer who tries to inform the audience in her article that cattle are not

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always treated inhumanely. Feutz claims that the term feedlot has gotten a lot of negative press
lately, but it is not all deserved (Feutz). She states that the cattle are not forced to eat, and are
allowed to eat just about as much as they want (Feutz). The Food Empowerment Project is a
volunteer organization whose primary goal is to encourage the change of food choices to the
general public. The Food Empowerment Project contradicts the claim made by Feutz when they
state that cattle are forced to eat an unnatural diet laden with hormones and antibiotics (Food
Empowerment Project). The organizations article is filled with constant attacks against the
treatment of cattle in feedlots, backed up with facts that detail the poor conditions the cattle
experience. For example, the organization states that processed feed can cause a myriad of
digestive complications (Food Empowerment Project). Feutz does not give many facts to back
up her claim that cattle raising is humane and fair, unlike the large amounts of evidence provided
by the Food Empowerment Project that chronicle the mistreatment cattle experience at the
feedlots. Both sources also contain information regarding the slaughter of the cattle after they
reach their target weight, but Michael Pollan and Paul Solotaroff go into further detail regarding
the treatment of cattle at the slaughterhouse.
The living conditions of cattle at the slaughterhouse are presented by Michael Pollan and
Paul Solotaroff in their respective articles, with Pollan presenting evidence that the conditions
are humane and Solotaroff showing inhumane treatment of cattle in the slaughterhouse. Michael
Pollan is a writer for the New York Times who is known for his work on industrial food. In his
article Power Steer, Pollan provides evidence that not all industries have inhumane methods of
slaughtering cattle, as he states that the double rail conveyor system designed by Temple Grandin
makes cattle slaughter less stressful and therefore more humane (Pollan 8). Pollan further
reinforces this claim when he personally sees that the cattle have no knowledge they are

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approaching death. Paul Solotaroff is a writer for the popular magazine the Rolling Stone, and in
his article he presents the hard evidence gathered by many undercover activists on the treatment
of animals in the meat industry. Solotaroff provides counter-examples to the humane methods
detailed by Pollan, stating that some industries have workers who beat cows for their own
enjoyment. The overwhelming amount of evidence presented by Solotaroff that was gathered
from undercover activists uses the rhetorical appeal of pathos, as the disturbing torture the cattle
go through will upset the reader through its graphic content. Both Pollan and Solotaroff present
credible evidence that support both sides of the argument on whether the treatment of cattle in
the slaughterhouse is humane or not.
The treatment of cattle in the beef industry is well illustrated by the hard evidence
provided by each author. Personal experiences, documented facts, and specific examples each
highlight the conditions that cattle face at the feedlot or at the slaughterhouse; with both humane
and inhumane practices shown off to support each claim. The shocking details of cattle treatment
in the beef industry are sure to make someone look twice the next time they eat beef.

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Works Cited:
Solotaroff, Paul. "Animal Cruelty Is the Price We Pay for Cheap Meat | Rolling
Stone." Rolling Stone Magazine. 10 Dec. 2013. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

Pollan, Michael. "Power Steer." The New York Times. The New York Times, 30 Mar.
2002. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

"Cows Raised for Meat." Food Empowerment Project, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

"Beef Cattle Life Stages." AgriCultured. 20 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.