No, they are worried about their bottom dollar. God was pretty smart when He created animals, they are tastier if they are stressed out less and feel little pain at the time of death. Better for the animal and we don't have an excuse to not treat them well.
I refuse to believe that this has to be an all or nothing situation Caustic. Animals are not people but they are also not trees. God treats them lower than people but above a plant (he never made a covenant with a tree, he did with animals) so we should too. When it comes to how to deal with them I turn to the Bible and God's word tells me that a righteous man cares for the needs of his animals. Should we eat them, yes but we do have to treat them well before and during death, it is our responsibility. That said where is the line? Unfortunately there are people on both sides that go too far. There are cows (and other animals) living in sickening situations and it disgusts me to no end that the laws aren't tougher on the real abuse cases. Then there are the Peta people who are just insane and if I weren't a Christian woman I would be tempted to say there is just no hope for them.
I have heard the point that by making a cow out to be nice it gives the loonies an excuse to elevate them to human status but I don't agree. First of all the real loonies don't care what the animal is like, nice or not they will defend it's right to be "free". Secondly, I won't lie and tell people that all cows are mean or stupid because they aren't. For the most part, in my opinion, they are nicer animals than horses, dogs or cats. Thirdly, the majority of the public has no problem eating a cute little cow if they know it has had a good life and was killed humanely. Old Belle just tastes too good.
I hate any kind of regulation but unfortunately rules are necessary because there are a bunch of jerks out there who do abuse their animals. We have to tell people that a cow needs to be fed and that you can't break a cat's legs for kicks because we live in a sin filled world that needs these laws. Personally I think that the penalties should be tougher on obvious abuse cases. If the law was changed so that the person that lets their cow starve to death faced a heavy penalty it would give credibility to the industry, the public would feel that cows were being cared for. If they decide to start putting in stupid regulations I'll fight against them but I can't see it happening because obvious abuse cases only get a slap on the wrist, even for a cat or dog.
If society would only do it God's way, eat them but treat them good. That's what I am pushing for. If people want to pat or not pat is up to whatever makes life easier and/or more enjoyable for them.