@finpunk: Thanks for your comment. As a veterinary student, one of my career goals is to increase welfare as much as I can on my client's farms. Modern agriculture receives a lot of bad press, but I wish to reassure you that there are many well-meaning people in the industry who do care about their animals, as well as different advisors (e.g. nutritionists, farm consultants, veterinarians), who are constantly trying to improve welfare on farms, regardless of size. I would also encourage you to check out some of the work Dr. Temple Grandin has done on cattle behaviour and welfare, and how it has really shaped the design of slaughter plants. 

On the reduction of meat, I think there is a strong and sensible argument to be made that the average North American could do with proportionally less meat and grains and more vegetables and fruits in their diet. However, that is a very different argument than saying we should not eat animals at all, as you correctly pointed out.