The Omnivore's Dilemma Chapter 12: Slaughter

In this rather grotesque chapter, Michael Pollan explores and describes in detail the process of slaughtering chickens at Polyface Farm. On processing day at the farm, they gather up a few hundred chickens and bring them to the processing shed where they prepare the birds for slaughter. I found it surprising that the chickens are relatively calm during most of this procedure. Pollan remarks that the birds are completely oblivious to what is happening while they are in the killing cones waiting to be slaughtered. The work in the shed is much like an assembly line where workers build up a sort of mechanical rhythm which allows them to get through this rather unpleasant process.

The processing shed at Polyface Farm as no walls; which means that customers can watch their chickens being slaughtered. Unlike the industrial meat production operations, Salatin does not hide the slaughtering process. He believes that people have the right to see all that goes on in these facilities. He also thinks that the strict regulations that the government places on his farm severely impede his production of organic food. Small farms such as Polyface are forced to abide by the same regulations and rules as the big industrial farms do. Since these small farms operate so differently from these industrial farms, shouldn't they have different regulations? Also, should all slaughter houses be like Salatin's processing shed where anyone can see what goes on inside?