Christians, Does Christian morality indirectly lead to animal abuse?

One of my neighbors used to be a vegetarian. He had a deep love for and respect of animals. Now, he is a born again Christian. He explained to me that, since the animals are put here for our use, things like vegetarianism from an ethical perspective do not make sense. I think there are passages in the Bible that support the idea of caring for animals, but the one about "put here for our use" seems the one most cited, since it makes the horrible treatment of animals "farmed" for human use, living if filth and in overcrowded conditions OK. As a Christian, What do you feel the implication of Christian morality is for animals?