The total number of land-based animals
killed for food in the U.S. this year is projected
to reach 10,378 million, according to data from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service. This represents
no significant change from the 2005/2006 mean
of 10,381 million, and a 1% drop in the per capita
figure, in light of the 1% annual U.S. population
growth.
The number of fishes and other aquatic organisms
killed for human and animal consumption is not reported
by any agency, but is likely to exceed that number.
The 10,357 million land-based animals
killed for food in 2006 includes both the 9,432
million animals reported as slaughtered by USDA
and an additional 925 million, or 9% of the total,
who died lingering deaths from disease, malnutrition,
injury, suffocation, stress, or other deadly factory
farming practices. The more egregious
example are the 266 million laying hens (62%
of those hatched), including 213 million males
dumped to suffocate slowly in plastic garbage
bags upon hatching and 53 million “spent” females
dumped on the waste pile, dead or alive, after
a lifetime of laying eggs.
The 2007 total of 10,378 million
includes 39 million cattle and calves (about even
with the 38.7 million in 2006), 121 million pigs
(up 2.6% from 118 million), 4 million sheep and
goats, 10 million rabbits, 317 million turkeys
(up 5% from 302 million), 28 million ducks (down
7% from 30 million), 9,409 million “broilers” (down
slightly from 9,428 million) and 450 million
laying hens (up 5% from $426 million).
In more personal terms , during
a 75-year life span, a typical U.S. resident is
responsible for the suffering and death of 10 cows,
34 pigs, and other small mammals, 2,535 turkeys,
chickens and ducks, and uncounted numbers of fishes
and other aquatic animals.
The 10,357 million animals
raised and killed for food in 2006 accounted
for 98% of land-based animals abused and killed
annually in the U.S. Another
250 million animals were killed for “sport,” in
biomedical laboratories, in pounds, or as “pests.”
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The report on the number of victims
of animal agriculture is compiled each year by FARM, a
public interest organization, in connection
with the annual observance of World Farm
Animals Day, launched in 1983 toexpose
and memorialize the suffering and deaths of
animals in the world’s factory farms and
slaughterhouses. This 25th annual observance
is co-sponsored by In
Defense of Animals and PETA.
On October 2 nd (Gandhi’s
birthday), nearly 400 communities in all 50 states
and 24 other countries hosted video screenings,
information tables, exhibits, leafleting, marches,
vigils, memorial services, and mourning festivals.
Hundreds of giant billboards and bus display cards
in major metropolitan areas carried the message
to millions. A number of governors and mayors
issued supportive proclamations.
For
a printable, PDF version of the
press release, click
here.
