In the meat industry economic considerations are often given priority over animal welfare as producers are always looking for ways to cut costs. The reality for many animals bred for human consumption is far from the happy farmyards we imagined as children. Animals are often kept in filthy, overcrowded conditions in huge, stinking sheds. The animals' health and well being often suffer in these cramped conditions as they are unable to exercise and some never see daylight at all. Their close proximity increases the risk of infection and antibiotics are used routinely to control disease.
People in Jersey and the UK have become accustomed to their daily meat and two veg, but while this is the norm for many of us the majority of the world's population live on less than a dollar a day. The lifestyle we take for granted is bought at a cost, as while there is enough land to feed all the world's population a substantial proportion of it is given over to meat production for export to richer economies while many in poorer countries go without. It is estimated that each kilo of meat requires ten kilos of grain to produce it. It is difficult to justify the continued daily consumption of meat in such quantities as the world's continually growing population creates an ever increasing demand for food.
The sustainable alternative is to limit your meat consumption as much as you can. Avoid processed foods such as the notorious 'turkey twizzlers' that are invevitably the products of factory farming and buy local, organic produce wherever possible instead. It will be more expensive, but the extra money paid ensures a better quality of life for the animal and a better quality product for you, the consumer.