Earlier this week, businesswoman and television personality Martha Stewart released an internet video decrying animal cruelty and the treatment of factory farm livestock.

In her video, Stewart condemned the cramped, dirty conditions frequently found in many factory farms across the country. In addition, she criticized the treatment of many animals in factory farms, decrying the practice of debeaking and detoeing chickens, for example.

Interspersed within the dialogue were video clips of livestock in factory farms.

While Stewart’s video may seem strange given the typical content of her television show (which frequently deals with cooking, often using animal products), her advocacy is not entirely out of left field. Stewart recently filmed a vegan show where she and a guest made meat-free dishes. In addition, Stewart herself is a longtime advocate of humane treatment of livestock.

In a statement on her blog, Stewart wrote, “As you may know, I have a penchant for backyard animal husbandry, the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.  Since I have a farm, I believe in raising one’s food and being as humane as possible in the treatment of that food.  I also have a great appreciation of good food and prefer eating better tasting and better for you heritage breeds of livestock.”

Animal rights groups have seized Stewart’s video as evidence of the poor treatment experienced by animals in factory farms. Given the tension between farm advocates and animal rights activists in recent months (flare ups include Florida and Iowa’s attempts to ban undercover farm videos and Nebraska’s push to block animal rights legislation), it’s likely that the public will see more of these videos over the course of the new year.

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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer