The editor:
I just read “Don't support factory farm-raised animals” and as a hog farmer, I feel compelled to share the truth about modern hog farms. First and foremost, H1N1 is not found in hogs in the United States. H1N1 is being spread from human-to-human contact, not from pork. Pork is SAFE to eat.
As a hog farmer, my top priority is the comfort and safety of my animal. By housing our animals in modern barns, we have eliminated many diseases and parasites that hogs raised outdoors have to endure, like worms, trichinosis and TGE to name a few. This has resulted in a safer food supply for my family, and yours. Farmers care for their livestock 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year; our lives revolve around our animals being healthy and content. I urge readers to talk to an expert, a farmer or large animal veterinarian, about the care given to animals and the housing systems used to protect livestock.
Our production methods are based off sound science, with the animal's comfort as our top priority. Farmers know healthy and content animals produce healthy food. Housing our animals in an environment which keeps them warm in the winter, and cool in the summer is a benefit to our animals, especially since hogs can only sweat through their nose. Americans enjoy air conditioning in their offices, homes and cars, our animals are also enjoying this same luxury.
Housing hogs in modern barns not only protects our animals from the elements of the weather, diseases and predator attacks, but it also improves food safety for our nation. If the majority of hogs were raised outdoors, the outbreak of an illness would be spread to wildlife and other livestock rapidly. By housing livestock in a controlled environment, farmers are able to contain any illness and prevent it from spreading to wildlife, other livestock, and pets.
Our animals do not have health insurance and antibiotics are expensive. Farmers can not afford to misuse antibiotics. Farmers are price takers, we do not get to set the price we receive for our products, and thus farmers use all animal health products responsibly. We also eat the same food that our consumers do. We know that healthy animals produce healthy food and we wouldn't feed our children anything that wasn't safe.
We only feed our animals high quality grains. Our diets are designed by a nutritionist to ensure our animals receive the nutrients their bodies need to be healthy. By housing our animals in a controlled environment, we are able to monitor each animal. If an animal isn't eating, we get the veterinarian there to tend to the needs of the animal. If these animals were outdoors, it could take days or weeks before it was discovered that this animal was not eating.
Would you ask your plumber for advice on your health care needs? I know I wouldn’t. I encourage everyone to talk to a farmer or large animal veterinarian to learn more about the care given to livestock. Talk to the people who work daily with livestock to learn how animals are cared for.
Chris Chinn
Clarence, MO
Letters to the Editor
Safety of hogs is top priority
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Elliott County outreach changes
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the Elliott County Christian Community Center became an incorporated service organization. Christian Social Services congratulates the leaders in Elliott County for their enthusiasm, compassion and dedication to the people of Elliott County.
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Bring better movies to Morehead
Don’t you love a good movie? We certainly do BUT for me that does not include “R” rated films. Of the seven movies advertised in the 1/20/12 issue of the News, five were rated “R.”
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Abortion advocate change of mind
As the new year begins, it is quite common to see printed in a newspaper or magazine a list of the names of prominent citizens who passed away in the preceding year. I recently came across such a list, and the name of one individual in particular caught my attention: Dr. Bernard Nathanson.
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Large sign is unsightly
While driving to Morehead today, I was dismayed to see that Cracker Barrel has erected one of their typical ultra-high “signs on a stick.” I somehow thought that Morehead’s sign ordinance would protect our community from this unsightliness and that the sign would be the same height as those of surrounding businesses.
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Political cartoon was off the mark
I don’t know how the political cartoons you publish are chosen, but I take exception to the one in the Dec. 27, 2011 issue of the paper. The cartoonist obviously does not agree with Time magazine’s choice of The Protester as Person of the Year.
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Business owners say thanks
We would like to take this opportunity to thank The Morehead News and Noelle Hunter for the lovely article about the loss of our small business, Clay Makin’s.
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Contest helps learn about energy use
As the New Year approaches, many of us are thinking of ways to save money. One way to do that is to reduce your energy usage. This will save you money and save resources.
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Thanks for supporting speech team
The Rowan County Middle School Speech Team members and coaches would like to extend a heartfelt “THANK YOU” to Mr. Tom James, Kentucky Bank Branch Manager and father of 8th Grade speech team member Haley James and all the staff of Kentucky Bank for their recent generous and most appreciated financial gift to the speech team.
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Thanks for Haldeman Christmas program
The Haldeman Community Center board members would like to say “Thank You” to all who attended and supported our Christmas Program. We all enjoyed the play “The True Gift,” the man in the red suit and all the wonderful snacks.
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Storybook Christmas appreciates support
On behalf of the Storybook Christmas Committee, I would like to thank the community for generous support of our project again this year. Storybook Christmas is an annual project of the Adult Basic Education and Literacy (ABEL) Council and the MSU Adult Learning Center.
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Elliott County outreach changes
