NHES advocates a vegetarian lifestyle for both humane and health considerations. By choosing vegetarianism, more animals will be spared the cruel rigors of factory farming and the inhumane conditions of the slaughter industry. By choosing a vegan lifestyle, no animals will face the cruel life of the factory farm.

At the very least, all factory farms should allow the following five freedoms for their farmed animals:

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst

2. Freedom from discomfort

3. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease

4. Freedom to express normal behavior

5. Freedom from fear and distress

	Birds Do not Fly on Factory Farms Factory Farmed Poultry "There is no attempt at even the barest replication of natural life for birds on a factory farm. There is no place for them to dust bathe to clean their bodies..."
	Factory Farm on Wheels Live Animal Transport "Whether conveyed by truck, cargo ship, or rail, animals destined for slaughterhouses often travel in horrendously crowded conditions..."
	Few Freedoms for Farmed Pigs Factory Farmed Pigs "A pig's natural behavior is denied to the estimated 105 million pigs raised yearly for slaughter on factory farms. There is no family unit on a factory farm..."
	Food from a Fish Bowl Aquaculture "Farm-raised fish is 'one of the fastest growing food producing sectors.' Some researchers estimate that as much as 50 percent of fish and shellfish consumed by humans comes from commercial aquaculture sources..."
	Food that Celebrates Life Vegetarian/Vegan "Adopting a vegetarian/vegan diet may seem a little daunting at first. This humane change in easting takes time, commitment, awareness, and enthusiam. But adopting a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle is worth every bite..."
	Government Role in Food Animal Production United States Department of Agriculture "The USDA is the primary federal agency charged with regulating, among many industries, the animal food production and slaughter industry..."
	Horses and Hot Flashes Menopause and Mare Urine "To collect urine, mares are forced to stand with rubber collection tubes affixed between their legs. They are tethered into their stalls..."
	The Myth about Happy Cows Factory Farmed Cattle "Today's cattle are far from contented and this image is ever-becoming simply a myth. In fact, most cattle raised today for either slaughter or dairy products live a life of deprivation and disease..."
	Neigh to Slaughter Horse Slaughter "State and federal actions have all but eliminated horse slaughter in the United States. However, transporting horses to foreign slaughterhouses for the purpose of killing the animals for meat is still occuring..."
	No Life for Bearded Billies and Lithesome Lambs Factory Farmed Goats and Sheep "In the United States, two million goats are raised for meat and another half million for milk and their hides. All are eventually slaughtered. Six million sheep are raised in the United States mostly for their wool and meat..."
	Pledging Compasion An Ethical Basis for Vegetarianism, by Anna C. Briggs, Founder "As a girl, I gave the meat on my dinner plate to my dog. Ever since, I've looked at people who ate meat and wondered if they realized—particularly in this sanitized, cellophane-wrapped era—where the food comes from..."
	What Is in a Name Certified Humane Label "For some of us, the most humane choice is a vegetarian or vegan diet. However, many people will continue to incorporate animals and animal products into their diets. For that reason, the following will be helpful in making the most humane choices when at the grocery store or when dining out..."