I've read the same about our beef and lamb industries, that it's much more humane than overseas.
But apparently our chicken and pork industries are much the same, and some info I saw suggests our pork industry is particularly bad.
I think your brother has a great point about the butchering process.
My father-in-law has a few sheep, he kills lambs every year and stocks up their freezer, and often gives us one. He's getting on a bit so asks me to give him a hand, some of them are a bit heavy for him to hang up. The first time round it was a bit of an eye-opener, but I had the exact same thought - if I can't help here and stomach this, then why am I eating it? I got through it, it's easy now, and it gave me a greater appreciation for where we get our protein, and what happens along the way.
Also the lamb is delicious, better than anything I've gotten through supermarkets/butchers, it's just a pity the father-in-law's butchering skills are so poor, we tend to get four enormous leg/shoulder roasts and a lump of poorly-cut chops, and that's it. He won't cut it any other way, despite my protestations!