It is a confusing argument. I dont like to see battery hens or pig slaughter yards. I dont like to see any suffering.
But we don't live in world where there is space or time to hunt and kill for ourselves. Wish we did sometimes, but it is not so simple. Animals eat other without even bothering to kill the prey first. So I suspect we are confused about the concept of suffering and cruelty, I think we have lost all connection with how humans integrate with other living systems.
I suspect the answer is in a less centralised and automised industry. Also in teaching our kids how kill and prepare animals, and let them choose if they want to or not. Even if it is just so that they really know what it means to take a life for food.
What kind of human cant even feed itself? I love technology but I really think we are way out of balance at the moment.
I dont know the answers, but it is great to at least talk about the questions.
