Most beef cattle live on the range fending for themselves for months or years. Although they are not confined they are not protected against weather, and dehydration. Many die from freezing in the pastures. Injured and ill cattle do not receive any veterinary attention. Many cattle get what is called “cancer eye.” The cancer eats away at the animals eyes and face and produce large holes on the sides of their heads.

Ranchers brand their cattle with hot irons which is extremely painful. Another practice by the ranchers is called “waddling” which involves cutting identification into the hide that hands under the cows neck.

When it is time for the cattle to be corralled onto the cattle trucks they become frightened and confused when they are rounded up. They are then transported to stockyards and auctions where they are pushed through walkways and holding pens. Older cattle are taken directly to slaughter or are taken to a feedlot.

In feedlots they are crowded by thousands into dusty and dirty holding pens. The air is full of harmful bacteria and the animals are at a very high risk for disease. The cattle are routinely implanted with growth hormones and they are fed very rich diets to fatten them quickly rather than their usual grass based high fiber diet. This fattening food causes metabolic disorders.

250 cattle are killed every hour. Workers rush through the killing process to keep up with the assembly line. workers are told “... it is impossible to have a good attitude towards cattle if employees have to constantly overexert themselves... just keep up with the line.”

Cattle are “stunned” by an imprecise mechanical blow to the head. The semi-conscience animal is hung upside down by its back legs, kicking and struggling. It will eventually be stuck in the throat with a knife and they will bleed to death conscience or not.