Everything is relative. Watch a video of a good slaughterhouse operating and the average person will be wretching under the table.
But in this case it's good to see this company be nailed for this stuff which is terrible. Sends a strong message and they'd have to be a pretty huge company to survive.
In general I think the beef industry treats animals pretty well, up until the point in which they kill them
The better producers understand that the way the cattle and beef are handeled directly impacts product quality and the price/margin they can capture. The demand for beef that's all natural and not pumped up with anti-biotics requires that conditions keep the cattle happy.
Even the veal producers treat animals much better than in years past. Growth hormones and nasty drugs have pretty much been made illegal. Any veal served in a good eatery has probably been raised in larger pens or even is free range. Although, your average grocery story hunk of veal is still raised in a manner many would find ethically challenged.
Buy better product and the suppliers will respond with more of it.
-spence