I'm sure this will generate some blow back but what the heck ....
Some of this is directed to points from Amo's previous post and some just generally toward some things about this board that peeve me.
Niche markets are by definition not mainstream and therefore relatively small. Niche by definition can not flood the market. Niche isn't scary and can hardly produce the pounds of beef, hogs, chicken, clothes, cars, guns or whatever to supply an entire market. Not only is there nothing about niche markets to fear, they may actually play a role in growth and health of the larger market.
I think PETA is generally funny. I'm pretty sure the general public is amused by PETA's antics and considers the group a farce not to be taken seriously. On the other hand, I think the Humane Society is viewed positively for their work with abandoned and abused pets, which is the mission the public expects for HSUS, not cow/calf producers or feeders.
What percentage of the folks you (or anyone else) know are vegetarians? Or won't eat beef because of the 'abusive treatment' animals receive on the farm? Of the hundreds of people I know, I know one (that's 1!!!) person who is a vegetarian. The rest eat beef, maybe not as rare as I but they eat beef. In fact, I don't know of a restaurant within 80 miles of my home that caters to vegetarians.
As God fearing producers we should treat our animals humanely regardless of PETA. The buying public judges how well we do that (as well as other things) and issues their judgement in the marketplace. PETA would like to impact that judgement but they do a really lousy job. There is nothing to fear there at all and getting worked up about it, fighting it simply brings more attention to it.
I bet that PETA display was a huge draw! The reason they do things like paint a butter cow red at the state fair is so they can get some attention. They can't get it otherwise.
I think we sometimes define ourselves by our fears. We get upset and bark at every little annoyance or at anything we don't truly like or understand or is different than ourselves. We are fearful of all these little shadows, back ourselves into a corner, offend an awful lot of people and miss out on a lot of opportunities just because someone or something is different and that scares us.
I won't be that way, and if that makes me different from you, well you know the saying : "Must be a troll!"