564002 Sat Oct 11 09:01:37 -0700 2008 3 33 Food Media and News 0 4097599 Promos for Oprah's show - I think it's Tuesday, 10/14 but possibly Monday - showed Lisa Ling's on-scene footage from feedlots and poultry and pig farms. Sat Oct 11 09:01:37 -0700 2008 159317 greygarious 1 4105856 Wrong about the feedlots. The program dealt largely with a ballot proposition in CA that would mandate increasing the size requirements for pens/cages for chickens, pigs, and veal calves. Large-scale, high population density confinement facilities for each were shown, as well as farms (in other states) that had free-range stock. Of course there were spokespersons for both sides of the issue. From what little I know about it, it seems that one major consideration was omitted: that the "cage-free" designation is not the same as free-range. The latter is typically a high population crammed into a building, without outdoor access. This would seem to be little improvement, if any, over barred confinement . The high-volume farmers insisted that the new law would put them out of business - yet the free-range farmers apparently supported their own families. It would have been interesting to know if they had additional income sources, and what the difference in production cost per animal is. One would assume that because more acreage is needed, free-range animals would cost more, but one of the free-range farmers said their costs are lower, for reasons including: fewer buildings to maintain, no antibiotics, lower commercial feed costs because animals are browsing, and less individual handling of animals means less manpower needed. No cattle, sheep, or other food animals were mentioned. Wed Oct 15 08:52:53 -0700 2008 4097599 159317 greygarious 2 4106491 interesting! << the "cage-free" designation is not the same as free-range. The latter is typically a high population crammed into a building, without outdoor access. >> i think you meant "the former"-- that the cage-free birds are the ones crammed into a building, right? thanks for the synopsis-- i never get to watch oprah & don't even know when her show is on, or what channel. . . i'm out of touch i guess! :) Wed Oct 15 12:50:30 -0700 2008 4105856 46030 soupkitten 3 4107008 Yes, sorry - I should have written "former". Wed Oct 15 16:02:54 -0700 2008 4106491 159317 greygarious