Now where did I indicate that I was exercising any control over anyone except myself? Each of us gets to decide how we feel about life. I happen to have become, as I have aged (maybe because I'm getting ever closer to my own end) much more observant of life of all kinds. That's just how I see things. I was not suggesting that my beliefs be forced upon you or anyone else. Despite having been in business my entire life, I have seen that making a profit has become the overarching reason for a lot of business leaders, and face it, farming is no longer a mom and pop operation. Here in California farming is THE biggest business in the state, and it has gravitated to a small, arrogant bunch of super wealthy individuals who have succeeded in having their way in our legislature, oftentimes to the detriment of the rest of us who live here. Now we're in a drought situation again, and in large measure, the population will suffer because corporate farmers have had their way. So yes, I think it's entirely possible for ranchers to abuse animals if it will increase their yields and consequent profits.
Just look at how business interests have corralled the GOPe. Do you think that the Chamber of Commerce really gives a rats a$$ about immigrants except to the extent that they can get cheap labor and foist the ancillary costs off on the taxpayer? It's a lousy deal. the RATs get cradle to grave voters and the GOPe gets cheap labor. Wished that today's big businessman had some ethics and morals, but in my experience, those qualities are mostly lacking. The only people that they can look down on are most politicians.
You missed the point in all your moral indignation and preening. Abusing the stock does not increase the yields. This has been understood in animal husbandry for centuries and you act like it's some brand-new thing.
I am aware of the CoC sellout. I am aware the GOPe sucks. We all know that. This is off-topic. Do "free-range" chickens produce more and better eggs? No. Not according to the ranchers who have posted on this thread. Stop pretending intervention from your god-like government is going to change that. Nor will it change my impression of you: You are a closet liberal on the wrong forum. The moral preening was the dead giveaway, I only suspected it before.