Please take another trip down memory lane with me by reading this second in my stimulating beef demand three-part series of past articles and commenting either pro or con. Thanks, Mack.

(Originally published 3-26-2015)

I wish these “animal rights” outfits would use acronyms I could pronounce. I mean how do you say HSUS (Humane Society of the United States), or MFA (Mercy for Animals)? Now PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) I can say, and COK (Compassion Over killing) arouses more prurient thoughts. Oh well, aside from ALPO (Animal Liberation Press Office) which sounds like dog food to me, ALF (Animal Liberation Front) and the few others that have chosen initials that form evocative pronounceable acronyms, I’ll have to struggle by mispronouncing their names, misunderstanding their charges and disagreeing with their actions.

Of course, my real interest in these groups is not for their name, but for their missions. Almost every one of them wants to put me out of business, and I am just too old to learn a new trade. But, I am not too old to debate their tactics and defeat their aims.

I would like to offer my opinions on how to constructively, proactively, meaningfully and successfully debate these “animal rights” groups. We must do this, for it is our livelihood we are debating.

If these groups want to put me out of business, and they do, why shouldn’t I try to put them out of business? Truth be told, I really don’t care about destroying them, but I do care about engaging them in a debate that points out the inaccuracies of their arguments and proves to consumers that the meat industry is animal-compassionate. If I can do that, then every time they put forth one of their titillating arguments, consumers will be reminded of how ridiculous and wrong they are. And then these “animal rights” groups become their own worst enemy.

I am tired of their salacious portrayal of our producing a nutritious food product, animal protein. But, I must admit, we in the meat industry are way behind in the debate about “animal rights.” If you don’t think so, just take a look at beef consumption and the more important measure, beef demand.

If their argument is to shame those who desire to eat meat by using a “bad for you” nutrition claim, we have evidence that meat protein is an excellent food source. If they want to debate on the basis of meat protein contributing to the obesity of our fellow adult citizens (In 2012, 69% were classified as overweight and 35.1% were obese, Source: Prevalence of Obesity in the United States, January 14, 2015) we have evidence that the rise in consumption of foods other than meat protein (remember it is down almost precipitously in the last 40 years) coincides with this rise in obesity. And, if they want to argue that meat protein is just bad for you, we have evidence that meat protein is good for you.

If their argument hinges on how we convert a live animal into a nutritious meat protein, we have the facts and evidence that this process is not only continuously inspected for humane treatment protocols, but it is only in the best interest of the industry to preserve and protect these animals if not for any other reason than for profit. It is simply unprofitable to abuse animals being processed for human consumption.

Alas, our first line of arguments in defense of our methods has been to attack. That serves no good purpose other than to put us in the gutter with them. We are better than that and we have the scientific arguments, humane animal care disciples, sustainability principles and an industry whose life blood is dependent on respecting the rights of animals.

I know the title to this blog is incendiary, unfair and probably in the same vein as tactics our “animal rights” opponents use. A better title would be, “Fight ‘em Fair.” This is not a winnable battle for us, but it is a battle nonetheless which we must join with a never give up and never give in attitude. We should be using the “wave on a rock” strategy. Just like the ocean wave constantly hitting the rock we will keep battling until we wear them down and they realize they cannot win, but our consumers will.

Kill ‘em all and let God sort ‘em out!

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