Every Twelve Seconds: Industrialized Slaughter and the Politics of Sight (Yale Agrarian Studies Series) Paperback – March 29, 2013

Couldn't put this book down. I've always loved everything from the Yale Agrarian series but this book was incredibly illuminating - I don't have the courage to go directly into a slaughterhouse, but reading this book helped me understand how awful this industry is. An insightful read for vegans and meat eaters alike.

It starts out a bit dry and technical, but stay with it-- this true account of one man's experience in a typical large-scale (~2500 per day) cattle slaughterhouse and "processing" facility is insightful on many levels. It gives a very detailed account of exactly how these operations work, but for me what was the most eye-opening insights were those related to how complex the conflicts of interest are, and how they in turn make it impossible for either the USDA or the slaughterhouse workers to adequately monitor the quality of the "product" and the way the animals are treated. In addition, he infused his perspective with compassion for the people who work there, in addition to compassion for the animals. The way the reality of what is happening there has to be concealed even from the people who work there (by designing the building with lots of concealing walls, turns, etc) underscores how much that ignorance is required in order for people to do their jobs. The mental "compartmentalizing" of what they are doing reminds me of the same coping technique used by people working in the Nazi concentration camps. People do things they would never normally do when they mentally compartmentalize it and remove their focus from the suffering of the person or animal in front of them. It made it even more clear to me that the market for animal products must vanish in order for this insidious factory farming machine to come to a stop. And this books helps the reader take the step of SEEING and KNOWING that is essential in order for pity, mercy and compassion to follow. May pity, mercy, and compassion truly follow for everyone who reads this book.

There are a few thoughts that I have that should cause all business leaders, consumers and workers to reflect.First, what have we created in a culture that puts the most value on the lowest price? $8 per hour employees work in difficult conditions doing work, slaughtering a cow every 12 seconds, that most of us would not consider.Second, how far do we allow special interests to control legislative initiatives specifically and the government in general? Reading about the USDA's role and the perpetual chess game between the slaughterhouse managers and federal inspectors, it seems to me that investigative work like this book is one of the few tools that we have to shine a light on the things that happen on the kill floor. Iowa's and Florida's legislative proposals that would make this book and other communication (e.g., video, pictures) describing ag practices criminal acts are disturbing.I didn't enjoy the book. How can anyone enjoy graphic descriptions of the knocking box process and cutters? I learned a lot, though, and so will you. Use this book as a way to see through the cement walls of the industrialized killing machine and understand how your consumer behavior fuels it.

We need perspective on the unlimited evil man does. This book tells us that by exposing a truly nightmarish look at something most of us never see and would never want to see...but is something we all need to see.What is being done to animals in the food chain has to be stopped. Animal products are not necessary in our diets and animal products kill us or make us sick,over time,when we consume animal products.Cholesterol is found only in animal products. A fact they never mention while the repetition of tests for cholesterol levels and advertisements for cholesterol prescriptions are played to audiences of hundreds of millions of people. To use "healthcare" you first need to have a sickness. Obesity,heart disease, stroke, blocked arteries,high blood pressure,inflammation and circulatory diseases are all directly caused by cholesterol/animal products in the diet. Animal products are a very high-calorie way to get protein,vitamin B-12(and calcium,in the case of milk). The fat calories in animal products are added and unneeded calories in our diets. And also I have to believe the weight-gain drugs that are given to animals so they grow abnormally large,abnormally fast,also contribute to the obesity epidemic that plagues countries that have animal-based diets. If heroin and crack can be in mother's milk and detected in the blood,I find it impossible to believe that tissue,milk and blood in the tissues of meat products are free of the drugs these poor imprisoned and tortured creatures who are kept in evil and unnatural conditions all of their lives,only to be cruelly and brutally slaughtered when their unnaturally short lives are stolen from them. There is no kind murder. Animals or living beings who do not die natural deaths are murdered and are murder victims. They say God gave man dominion of the animals but God has dominion of mankind. But mankind does evil. And does not do or act according to God's will. I can only believe that this evil of imprisoning animals in such foul and unnatural filth and captivity as they are held in,and cannot escape from,are NOTHING God would ever do. Or direct man to do by His divine will. We don't need to use animal products. But the expansion of Medicaid,for people who are here and are not citizens are part of why it is being expanded.The slaughter/meat processing industries use immigrants,often undocumented,for most of the repetitive,sickening and dangerous work. These people are easily intimidated,don't report dangerous or unsanitary practices and working conditions,and fear being reported as undocumented workers. They essentially are not much better off than slaves.This book and online information on slaughterhouse workers,immigrants in slaughterhouses and conditions in slaughterhouses will tell you why it is profitable for huge slaughter operations to use undocumented,illegal immigrants who are brought here in what really should be called human trafficking or slave-trading. And these people and these practices are a big part of the problem of the workers and the tax burden of housing,feeding,giving medical services to and essentially creating a new population of welfare class people. Poor and desperate. The worst and most gruesome and undesirable work there is,is all they might do to earn a living in this"land of opportunity". These things make me ashamed to live in this country. We can do better. But not as long as things like you can read in this book are common and accepted,and acceptable. All the meat,egg and milk product counters in grocery stores tell me nobody cares,or nobody knows about it,or both. Because as long as there are demands for animal products,slavery and keeping a class of uneducated and impoverished people,so desperate they'll take any job to earn a living,will continue. And anytime anyone buys an animal product,they are saying "I don't know about these things",or they are saying"I do know about these things,but I don't care." And "It's okay with me as long as I don't have to do it. As long as I have my barbecued ribs or steak or ice cream". People are that selfish and inhuman. I've had the experience of having direct contact with them. It makes me ashamed and sad to be here with so many people like that.

Everyone should read this book... Everyone

Horrifying and incredibly readable account of industrialized slaughter and the segregation required for its existence. More moving, perhaps unintentionally, than most of the literature and rhetoric devoted to ethical treatment of animals. Brave and insightful research. Real.

That many states in the US have passed laws forbidding any form of entry into slaughter complexes, that is with the objective of reporting on the conditions is a splendid indictment of the excesses of capitalism.I note that capitalism is the most efficient economic system, but the moral and abuses of this are widespread and not controlled.

Every meat eater should read this book .

This is a great book. Anybody concerned about the food they eat or feed to their children should read this book. While i seldom eat meat, I will probably never eat beef again. I especially enjoyed the last chapter.