Ask a Ranch Vet: What are Factory Farms?

By Dr. Rich Brazil, DVM

What Is REALLY Happening in American Animal Agriculture?

As a large animal veterinarian for 37 years, I have studied animal agriculture both in the United States and internationally and understand the industry well.

When I heard the phrase “factory farm,” I found it distressing. This language brings to mind a cruel and dangerous operation—animals in unsanitary cages and environmentally destructive management practices. When I read that 94% of U.S. meat comes from these so-called “factory farms,” I was even more disturbed.

But I know that the vast majority of ranches and farms in the United States are classified as small (89%) and family-owned (98%).

So which is it? Both these depictions of American agriculture can’t be right. I decided to dive deeper, and here’s what I learned.