The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act is a federal law designed to decrease the suffering of livestock during slaughter.The Act requires livestock to be rendered unconscious before slaughter. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act states "in the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules or sheep, swine, and other livestock, all animals are rendered insensible to pain by a single blow or gunshot  or an electrical, chemical or other means." The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act applies to all farm livestock, however the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act does not apply to fowl.

Fowl constitutes a majority of slaughtered farm animals in the U.S  and the USDA often interprets the law as excluding chicken, turkeys, and other foul. In the U.S more than 7 billion chickens are killed for their meat each year. Chickens in the meat industry typically spend their lives confined in warehouse buildings packed with as many as 20,00 other chickens. The over-crowding can cause bruises, sores, and lesions on the chicken. While in the U.S 305 millions of hens are used for their egg production. 95% of egg-laying hens spend their lives in battery cages holding 5-10 birds. Female chicks have their beaks seared off with a hot plate in these farms while 260 million male chicks are killed upon birth since they are not able to produce eggs for profit. They either grind these hens alive or shock them on the "kill plate." In addition to the inhumane treatment of the animals, our environment is also being affected.

In the U.S, animals in factory farms deposit more than 1 million tons of manure a day. This waste from the animals are typically stored in huge, open lagoons which can leak and spill into the environment and rural communities. Poor sanitation and waste management on factory farms and the poor management of animal waste can lead to the contamination of the food supply by bacteria like E.coli and salmonella. Each year 76 million Americans become ill from food borne illness, and thousands die. Please take the foul into consideration and know that you have a voice.