Historically, justice has expanded in concentric circles. Once, rights were reserved for free, property-owning men. The circle widened to include women, then slaves, then people of different races and religions. The question of our time is whether the circle will widen further to include sentient beings of other species.

From a welfarist perspective, these conditions are an abomination that requires reform (e.g., banning crates, requiring perches). From a rights perspective, the issue isn't the cage's size; it is the cage's existence.

This is already driving technology. (grown from cells in a bioreactor) offers the flesh of animals without the slaughter. Plant-based alternatives (Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods) are decoupling protein from suffering. AI-driven animal communication (translation of pig grunts and chicken calls) may soon tell us, empirically, what we have always suspected: that they feel pain acutely.