We visit farms, dairies, piggerie, abattoirs, beef farms etc etc all the time in the course of our uni degree... I was pleasantly suprised by each abattoir I have been to. I have found them to be excellent and much more humane than I envisioned.. Not for the squeamish, I'll admit, but no animal suffering there.
The same goes for piggeries and dairies - they are strictly regulated and while from the outside people think they are cruel (usually people with NO idea by the way) they adhere to strict guidelines and are regulated very severely, especially these days. Keep in mind, too, that what is "cruel" in a human's eye doesn't often reflect the same with animals. Just because you wouldn't like to live the way they do, it doesn't mean they're unhappy. Scientific studies are done all the time on farming and you will be suprised at the results of how animals "feel" about many of the situations PETA etc think are crimes against nature.
Furthermore, not all meat you're not eating is raised in a "cruel" way.. much of Australian beef (and essentially ALL sheep) are raised on large extensive properties. The animals live free except for twice a year when people see them for shipping/management reasons... That is far from a cruel life. Remember that just because you love animals doesn't mean you can't eat them. I wouldn't be studying vet if I wasn't mad keen about animals, but I'd eat any animal there is (circumstances permitting).
I understand I cannot sway you back to the meat eating way of life, and I don't mind (more meat for me!) but it is important to know you cannot believe everything you see or read - especially 99% of the pro-vegetarian stuff on the internet. Do your own decision making!
Good luck anyway!
EDIT: free range chooks typically have WAY more health issues than caged chooks do, just for your information