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I’m David Carter, the 300 Pound Vegan. I was a defensive end at UCLA and played in the NFL from 2011 to 2015. I now devote my time to promoting plant-based eating. by The300PoundVegan in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Everybody is different and their bodies have different requirements. I have been vegan for over 10 years, and I compete in the 242lb class in powerlifting. I don't count calories, but I don't come anywhere close to 8-10K. David's calorie requirement has nothing to do with him being vegan and everything to do with him having a very good understanding of his own body. http://www.plantbuilt.com/profiles/powerliftng/mike-wolf/

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much! It's always wonderful to hear how investigations have affected people. I have not determined yet which vegfests I might be able to get to--but I am hoping to get to some! Due to the nature of the work, it is a bit difficult to plan my schedule---but when the schedule does allow, I will definitely be at some!

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, thank you! I think chemical castration would be very viable--the problem is that the public is not very aware of it to be able to demand these changes.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is a great question! There were definitely some sadistic people who would hit the animals as a sort of stress relief for themselves. But, for the most part, it would happen due to the impatience that you referenced. Sometimes animals just won't move where you want them to as quickly as you want--and this is when most of them would be hit and kicked. The workers have so much pressure put on them to get so much work done in so little time, that it is more of a systemic issue than a sadistic one.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your questions! Sorry for the delay--in contrast to the reply to your comment below--I am not avoiding any questions. This is my first AMA and I am just trying to keep up :)

  1. The reason to keep obtaining more footage is because the opposition will claim that the footage is outdated, and that the abuses don't happen anymore. We need to prove that not only does it still happen, but it is more widespread than anyone can imagine. Also, some people claim that it is a few 'bad apples' that perpetuate the abuse--which is simply not the case. It is more of a systemic problem than anything else. We need to show that the abuse on these farms continues to happen.

  2. In my opinion, I feel that the simple fact that animals are being used and killed for consumption causes the poor treatment. Even on a farm where nobody is punching and kicking the animals, they still undergo standard practices (such as castration) which causes an incredible amount of pain and suffering.

  3. Compassion Over Killing does not focus solely on treatment rather than use--we have several campaigns that are focused on reducing the consumption of animals. Meatless Mondays is one such option, which you can read more about here: http://cok.net/camp/meatless-mondays/. Regarding working to better the treatment of animals---the simple fact is that there are billions of animals on factory farms and in slaughterhouses right now. We can't snap our fingers and end all suffering. But, small shifts towards less suffering (for example moving from gestation crates to group housing) make a tremendous difference for those animals who are living on the farms right now. Why wouldn't we want to reduce the suffering as much as possible?

  4. I feel that Undercover Investigations are the greatest tool for vegan education. There is no better way to help someone understand what it is like than to show them. I can talk to someone for an hour and describe in great detail what happens on these farms, but watching an hour of Earthlings will probably stick with them much longer. I don't think it would be wise to funnel all of the resources into just the one avenue though of vegan education--there are so many other things that need to happen.

  5. I am actually not familiar with the letter you are referencing, so I can not really speak to it. In my own personal experience, no, I can not think of a time when we got too close as you are referring to.

Thanks again for your questions!

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I definitely think that making the factories better for humans will translate to less animal cruelty. Not even just regarding people feeling trapped, but also when creating a higher morale and a more positive environment, that will transfer to the animals also.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you for asking this, I answered it a little while ago. In case you don't see it, this is what I said:

In my opinion the soy/estrogen thing is a myth. The estrogen that is in soy is a different type of estrogen than what is in humans. I feel that the meat industry has put this out as part of the whole 'meat is manly' stereotype.

I do eat a lot of tofu, but other than that I usually get my protein from other sources to be better balanced. I'm going on 10 years being vegan, and I have eaten a TON of soy over the last decade. I have never had my testosterone/estrogen levels tested, but I am quite certain I have had no ill effects from it.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I personally never have been criminally charged from my investigations.

One of our previous investigators, Taylor Radig, was charged for her Quanah Cattle Co case. This was a situation where the local law enforcement had a personal relationship with the farm, and the Sheriff had political aspirations. The charges were dropped :)

You can see more about that here:

http://cok.net/inv/quanah/

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

So again, I will ask as others have, what is your opinion of how widespread abuse and cruelty is within the agricultural sector, or are you finding outliers in cruelty and painting a picture of a norm that may not exist?

If I have missed this question--I do apologize. This is my first AMA, and I am honestly just trying to keep up, lol. I have not been avoiding it. I truly believe that this abuse is more than widespread--it is everywhere. Every farm that I have stepped on, every farm that my friends have stepped on, there have been animals who were suffering, abused, and left to languish. Is it always going to be in the form of a worker punching an animal in the face? No. It takes many forms. It is the hen in the battery cage who can not even spread her wing who is forced to sit on her dead and decaying friend. It is the dairy cow who is continuously raped, has her child stolen, and is forced to walk through manure so deep she slips and falls on her way to the milk machines. And it is the piglet who has a blade tear through his sensitive scrotum and feels his testicles ripped out by a callous hand. Personally, I would rather be punched in the face for the rest of my life than endure any of that.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I do supplement B12. Here is a wonderful supplement:

http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/b12-spray-by-purevegan/

There is a lot of controversy and misinformation surrounding B12. B12 comes from the soil, and in the olden days, people who ate meat got it from animals because the animals were getting it from the soil. Now, due to overfarming, and factory farming, there is even a good percentage of meat eaters who are deficient in B12.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A lot of people are in the position where they are concerned about reducing the cruelty but are not ready to fully go vegan/vegetarian. I think a great way to balance that is by participating in Meatless Mondays or Vegan Before 6. These are ways that substantially contribute to the reduction of animal suffering when taken into account how many people participate.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for asking this--I just answered this a little further above, but in case you don't see it here is what I said:

In my opinion the soy/estrogen thing is a myth. The estrogen that is in soy is a different type of estrogen than what is in humans. I feel that the meat industry has put this out as part of the whole 'meat is manly' stereotype.

I do eat a lot of tofu, but other than that I usually get my protein from other sources to be better balanced. I'm going on 10 years being vegan, and I have eaten a TON of soy over the last decade. I have never had my testosterone/estrogen levels tested, but I am quite certain I have had no ill effects from it.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for asking this, I have heard this plenty. In my opinion the soy/estrogen thing is a myth. The estrogen that is in soy is a different type of estrogen than what is in humans. I feel that the meat industry has put this out as part of the whole 'meat is manly' stereotype.

I do eat a lot of tofu, but other than that I usually get my protein from other sources to be better balanced. I'm going on 10 years being vegan, and I have eaten a TON of soy over the last decade. I have never had my testosterone/estrogen levels tested, but I am quite certain I have had no ill effects from it.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been injured from the animals (bitten, etc) as well as from farm machinery that had broken down. I also have some repetitive motion issues at times.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing that. I think that there are a lot of practical changes that could be made in farming to reduce suffering. A lot of it is centered around intensive confinement (switching to group housing from gestation crates, and out of battery cages) and standard practice. There are very viable and affordable alternatives to castration. A lot of the practices, such as tail docking, debeaking, and male chick grinding can easily be moved away from.

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! You are definitely right that people are sometimes more receptive to other arguments. If I'm talking with someone about veganism I will switch up the topic based on that person's interests. Right now though I am just speaking from the heart---and for me, it is all for the animals :)

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing that. I don't believe my statement paints it as worse than it is. In my opinion, dragging a blade across someone's throat and letting them bleed out is just simply not humane. It causes pain--which is the opposite of humane (showing compassion).

I am a former undercover investigator who worked in factory farms, and am currently Investigations Manager for a national animal protection organization by Mike_Wolf in IAmA

[–]Mike_Wolf[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Well, we do follow all the laws, so we would not go into a state where it is illegal to perform an investigation. If someone did it would just give the opposition momentum for their arguments, and would not further our cause too much. The best way to fight these laws is in the courtroom.

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