Reply #12: The difference is..

[Xithras]

Most cattlemen are more than willing to open their ranches and show people how they operate. My DAD owns land in Oregon and runs cattle on it. I KNOW how the cattle are treated. I KNOW how others treat cattle. Where I live here in central California, there are cattlemen all around me. They operate their businesses in the open where anyone can see what they're doing.

A stressed out steer in poor physical shape is worth hundreds less than a fit, healthy steer. You'd have to be a real moron to give up thousands of dollars in profits per truck when $50 worth of feed will tie them over. Yes, I admit that there ARE morons out there, but it's not all that widespread.

Oh, and nice non-sequitur there with the slave comment. The fact that you once held racist beliefs has absolutely no bearing on the quality of care cattlemen give their herds.