The animals down on the factory farm suffer from birth to their deaths. The pig does not get to root - the chicken never spreads it's wings and a new trend where the cow never feels the warmth of the sun.

The new issue in Ohio ia the increase in the number of dairy farms which now house 1,000 plus cows at each farm. More to follow.

The one action YOU can take to lessen this cruelty is to stop eating animals.

Links are provided to organizations which work toward improving the welfare of animals on the farm and information concerning vegetarian and vegan diets.

Vegetarian diet: A healthy alternative with a vegetarian eating plan

This link will take you to the Highlights of the ODA's Livestock Environmental Permitting Program as of 9-2-04. Take a look and see who has been permitted and the number of animals on their farms. You'll be amazed.

Buckeye Egg Farm is a category in itself. With a long history of abuse of the land and the animals the Buckeye and Pohlmann legacy left Ohio on February 2, 2004. Ohio Fresh Eggs are the new owners. Although new owners isn't entirely true and Don Hershey was one of the original owners of Croton Egg farm before being taken over by Pohlmann. I guess we'll watch and see what happens now.

In the meantime, some archived information. The conditions highlighted in Inside Buckeye Egg can be found at almost any egg farm in the world.

Inside Buckeye Egg - Mercy For Animals and Ohio Proud?

MFA has also produced a website, www.VegOhio.com, which lists over 70 veg-friendly restaurants, nearly 55 health food stores, and 15 vegetarian/animal rights organizations. The colorful, upbeat, fun and user-friendly site makes becoming and staying vegetarian easier for everyone, including out-of-state visitors, by covering over 30 cities and providing maps, business hours, phone numbers, and addresses to veg-friendly establishments.

P.O.E.T. has organized dozens of demonstrations against Buckeye Egg Farm and joined with the farm community during the expansion of the corporation. We are a member of The Ohio Family Farm Coalition.

Here are some links you can use to help go vege and learn about issues in Ohio.

• The Livestock Environmental Permitting Program
• The Dayton Daily News published a well-written and researched expose of modern livestock production. Click to access this entire six-part series
• VEGAN OUTREACH, a great source for information which will help you to go vegetarian/vegan.

• If you want to be kept update on Farm Animal issues, FARMNET is the site to visit. Farmed Animal Watch, a free electronic news digest, is also available there. The digest reports on industry news and updates, current research, legislation, activism, calendar items, and announcements gleaned from an array of academic, industry, advocacy and mainstream media sources.