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Is it morally preferable to be vegetarian than to eat meat, poultry, and eggs produced in factory farms?

Is it morally preferable to be vegetarian than to eat meat, poultry, and eggs produced in factory farms? Do conditions in those farms impose a moral duty to adopt a vegetarian diet? Why or why not?

Public Comments

1. No, it is not for me and other people thinking with logic. The only way to curb factory farms is to curb population.
2. Absolutely. The way animals are treated as a commodity alone is wrong. Think of it as sexism or racism, this is speciesism. In my eyes there is no difference as you are oppressing beings by taking what you "need" without consent. There is no excuse for blatant ignorance or a deaf ear. To others with the argument of "then why did god put them here?" is one of the most ridiculous question ever present second to "then why do they taste so good?" Obviously not every thing on the planet is put here for us to consume. To the other question, try human flesh. There are many cases of cannibalism where parties involved agree it tastes much like the flesh of other animals.
3. It probably won't make much of a difference, if that's what you're asking. Enough people eat meat to keep the market alive. On a personal level, I've seen the way a cow is slaughtered for KOSHER meats. It's awful, and sad, and cruel. I'm not totally vegetarian, but seeing that is enough that I won't ever eat beef again. It's all a reflection of your personal values. It's got nothing to do with "logic", as one answerer said. If it doesn't bother you, you eat meat. It bothered me, so I don't.
4. There are no morally ethical veg*ns Because we all have blood on our hands whether from the slaughter house or the veggie fields, all animals are intentionally killed for our diets.
5. Vegetables aren't animals, and they don't have blood, so I don't think I have blood on my hands... Perhaps a lot of vegie guts though? Setting that aside... If you think it is unethical to raise animals in factory farms, then free-range meat or becoming a vegetarian is the answer. The problem is that many people don't see it as unethical - or don't even know about factory farms at all.
6. i personally think it is morally preferable to be a vegetarian. one reason is that i cannot be part of such cruelty, factory farming has no compassion for animals, they are profiting from the animals misery. immoral. the other reason on moral grounds is that there would be alot more food to go round(and hopefully less starving people) as it takes 16 pounds of soya beans to make 1 pound of beef, you can feed alot more people with 16 pounds of soya beans than you can 1 pound of beef!