Isis wrote
"To prevent such whistleblowing, several states have passed so-called “Ag-gag” laws that would make it illegal to clandestinely film inside slaughterhouses, sparking what animal rights activists fear will be a nationwide trend"
I think this, at the very least, should alert us to the fact that animals are indeed considered a commodity by these farmers. Farming on a large scale will invariably involve atrocities or animal rights violations, since wasting time and money on treating animals humanely will negatively affect the amount of profit they'll make. The fact that the government supports them also gives us an indication that economic ends are being pursued at the cost of animal rights, which does not generate profit.
We're not far off from the square pigs from Space Truckers:
