The recent commentary, “Sickened by U.S.`factory farms’ ” (BDN, May 20), written by Seattle-based Simon Chaitowitz and Washington-based Neal Barnard, is based on false claims.

The 1,300 dairy and beef farms in Maine are concerned caretakers of the resources that provide family income — animals and land — far from sterile animal factories the authors describe. The average beef operation in Maine is 29.5 head and nationally is 38 head. Nearly 98 percent of all U.S. producers are small to mid-scale family-run operators with fewer than 500 head.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 90 percent of land categorized as grazing is not suitable for growing crops, and ruminant grazing is a practical and sensible way to harvest and pay taxes on it. Good management practices are in evidence when travelling our roads — erosion controls, protective fencing around waterways, compost piles, for example.

The authors’ attempt to link the use of animal health products to antibiotic resistance in humans is unfounded and irresponsible. Farmers use FDS-approved antibiotics and medications to prevent and treat diseases in the same way antibiotics are used in humans.

Since the FDA first approved using animal health products in 1951, they have proven to be effective in treating animals for diseases, thus assuring that only healthy cattle enter the human food chain.

Americans do not eat what the authors call a “meat-centered standard diet” anymore, either. Diet and health issues are volatile issues that are susceptible to consumer activism and battles over “good foods” and “bad foods” versus a total diet and healthy lifestyle approach.

Cattle now are produced with 27 percent less trimmable fat than in the 1970’s, because of a national approach to using different genetics and feeding regimes. The fourth edition of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans affirmed the important role lean meats play in diet.

Chaitowitz and Barnard say family farms are a thing of the past and are now owned by giant corporations. Guess they have never visited Maine.

Judy Powell is executive secretary of the Maine Beef Industry Council.