I'll play devil's advocate a bit here. I do understand the impulse to try to protect ourselves (collectively), but if we are fearful of posting images of cattle who are, to all appearances, not being treated very well, who does that serve? And where does it stop? What about a legit pic from a member on CA asking for advice on a wound, or mastitis, etc? Do we need to censor those?
I think we should instead strive for openness and transparency about how we raise our animals. Yes, it's true that many people don't understand the first thing about farm life, and animal husbandry. Let's educate them.
I for one always get raised eyebrows (even from family and friends) about the fact that our hardy Angus are (gasp!) not housed in a barn all winter. I bite my tongue and explain that they're bred for this weather--that they have windbreaks, and can go in the barn when they want to get out of the truly bitter cold (and that they seldom do so, except on the coldest days of the year). Usually, the person comes away with a bit of knowledge they didn't have before.
If we give the public only a Disneyfied view of cattle-raising, aren't we part of the reason they have a Disneyesque view of cattle-raising?
:2cents: :2cents: