Currently in Nebraska, the US Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) is using tax payer dollars to fund cruel and inhumane experiments on innocent farm animals.  This center has been open for over 50 years and has continued to senselessly kill thousands of pigs, sheep and cattle (yes, even babies).  The sort of "research" done here is so heinous, that other such institutions won't even perform it.  The surgeries and experiments performed at MARC are frequently carried out by untrained individuals with very little oversight from veterinarians.  Almost no thought is given to the trauma and pain these animals experience. 

Farm animals are glaringly omitted from the Animal Welfare Act, which provides certain protections for animals used in research.  Because of this ridiculous loophole, MARC is allowed to continue torturing and killing animals with no repercussions.  The treatment of animals at this facility is barbaric and it is time for the USDA to shut it down. 

More information on the MARC center can be found in a recent New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/20/dining/animal-welfare-at-risk-in-experiments-for-meat-industry.html?_r=0 ;