We did an Amicale tour of a farm that produced Foi Gras a few years ago, yes they are force fed ducks, using birds trapped in cages and with funnells above them to drop the feed in, the necks are massaged to help them swallow, the ducks all look forward to the feed though, they all perk up at feeding time and cant wait to get it down them, form your own opinions, I have worked in slaughter houses and seen first hand the anguish of pigs and cattle arriving in lorries, they just know what is about to happen before they are off loaded, you can see terror in their eyes and body language, not many people eat Foi Gras (I do and love it) but lots of people eat pork and beef unaware that those animals suffer as well, the time scale of the suffering being very different, but its still there, I do like to eat wild shot meat, pigeon, pheasant, rabbit, deer and boar, its just the best thing knowing that the animal has lived a natural life, and had not an inckling of its last ten seconds, and that the species is still thriving (especially deer around here as little shooting takes place) I also buy beef from a farm where the cow is shot in the field by its owner (using .38 humane destroyer) with no prior warning, but this makes it illegal to sell to the public, because the slaughter has to be done in an approved slaughter house, if for sale to the public. I will buy that meat all the time I am invited to, my pork comes from a similar farm, but is slaughtered at an establishment 4 miles from the farm, it comes to me either as a whole pig or just a side as the demand and needs rise and fall, not just for me but for others, many times I have hoped for two sides, but only get one, it is popular.
CLEM
