Archive for the ‘The Daily Vegan Spin’ category
Lifespan of flies is longer than calves
Bob veal is from calves that are slaughtered when only a few days old (70-150 lb.) up to 150 lb.
“Every year 1 million five-day old calves are slaughtered to supply the veal market.”
This is a 2008 ad by Animal Liberation in Australia that I found pretty dramatic. Did you know that the veal industry is a result of the dairy industry? Well, like other mammals, a cow will only produce milk once she’s given birth. Makes sense, nature has a nasty habit of doing things completely right without the need for human intervention. But we couldn’t exploit the cows if we just let them produce milk in natural cycles, so we impregnate them (over and over again, in unnatural cycles) to keep them producing milk- for their babies, which we take away from her (we wouldn’t want all that milk going to just her baby and not a large corporate grocery store now would we?) and if we can’t use the cows (meaning if they aren’t girls who can start the cycle over again) we chain them into a veal crate so that they can’t move (hey, no one likes tough veal). Then, we finally kill the calf.
Meanwhile the mother of the calf cries and searches for her lost young. Just like a human would if a human lost her child.
Do I sound bitter? Yeah, probably. I’m heartbroken for those poor mothers and children. No, they may not be the human variety, but that doesn’t mean that they matter any less. As a human, I am capable of moral and ethical choices. I am also capable of compassion. Indeed, it’s what makes me the superior species- if there could even be such a thing since I can’t fly, breath under water, run 70 miles an hour, or any of the other amazing things non-humans can do.
And it’s exactly why I am vegan.
Incidentally, it surprises me sometimes when I read or hear that folks don’t (or didn’t) know the connection between dairy and veal. I don’t know why that it surprises me, I had to learn it too- no judging here. So, for education (and ironic) purposes, here’s what Veal – Wikipedia has to say:
Veal is the meat of young cattle (calves), as opposed to beef from older cattle. Though veal can be produced from a calf of either sex and any breed, most veal comes from male calves of dairy cattle breeds.
There are five types of veal:
- Bob veal, from calves that are slaughtered when only a few days old (70-150 lb.) up to 150 lb.
- Formula-fed (or “milk-fed”) veal, from calves that are raised on a milk formula supplement. The meat colour is ivory or creamy pink, with a firm, fine, and velvety appearance. They are usually slaughtered when they reach 18–20 weeks of age (450-500 lb).
- Non-formula-fed (“red” or “grain-fed”) veal, from calves that are raised on grain, hay, or other solid food, in addition to milk. The meat is darker in colour, and some additional marbling and fat may be apparent. Usually marketed as calf, rather than veal, at 22–26 weeks of age (650-700 lb).
- Rose veal UK is from calves reared on farms in association with the UK RSPCA’s Freedom Food programme. Its name comes from its pink colour, which is a result of the calves being slaughtered at around 35 weeks.
- Free-raised veal, The veal calves are raised in the pasture, have unlimited access to mother’s milk and pasture grasses. They are not administered hormones or antibiotics. These conditions replicate those used to raise authentic pasture-raised veal. The meat is a rich pink color. Free-raised veal are typically lower in fat than other veal. Calves are slaughtered at about 24 weeks of age.
The veal industry’s support for the dairy industry goes beyond the purchase of surplus calves. It also buys large amounts of milk by-products. Almost 70% of veal feeds (by weight) are milk products. Most popular are whey and whey protein concentrate (WPC), by-products of the manufacture of cheese. Milk by-products are sources of protein and lactose. Skimmed milk powder, casein, buttermilk powder and other forms of milk by-products are used from time to time.
Learn more about the animals used in every day items by visiting Commercial Street. Commercial Street symbolizes the institutionalized use of animals in the human world, by showing what product labels would look like if they told the full truth. A completely interactive experience, you can “walk” down Commercial Street located in Anytown, Anywhere, and “shop” for familiar items such as meat, dairy, clothing, over the counter medications, rugs, or even fish. Each label will tell you more about the animals used in those items. It’s a powerful visual tool, one meant to reinforce how our choices impact the world around us, and the animals in it.
KD Traegner is an unapologetic vegan. She believes that animals besides us, and including us humans, have the fundamental right to a natural and free life. She is compassionate, believing that her choices matter, and she takes that power seriously.
Her mission is simple: to bring the vegan evolution to the masses, connect vegans with other vegans, and support vegans in their own lives, as well as their advocacy work. She does that through the use of her website, Your Daily Vegan, and her big mouth.
Anti-Vegan Screed is Compost
Lindsay Beyerstein over at bigthink.com wrote a piece criticizing another piece about veganism. You know she’s expecting the “typical militant, self-righteous, vegan tirade.” Allow me.
After a brief introduction to the vegan piece she’s about to criticize, Beyerstein wastes no time in beginning her assault on veganism with the often asserted, misguided assumption that veganism is a disruption to life,
…a way of deliberately disrupting your own life to force yourself to constantly reflect on your values…
Thanks for reminding all of us that change is hard, so we shouldn’t do it, and that it’s a waste of time to reflect upon one’s values. Now we can all get back to doing nothing.
After using ironic, and certainly dubious, terms such as, “ethically and sustainably raised animal products,” comes this little number,
Yes, meat production is environmentally expensive. So is iPod production, yet many vegans own iPods.
To assert that iPod production is as environmentally devastating as livestock production is, frankly, fucking stupid. By this reasoning, all production of goods is environmentally devastating. I suppose we’ll just all say, “fuck it,” and consume unabated, reproduce, and teach our children the same self-destructive behaviour. After all, the planet expands as the human population increases, right? Nothing to worry about except our own tastes and desires.
The author then assumes cows and chickens have no real concept of really living or dying, implying we can pretty much do with them what we please. The hubris of humans when it comes to the understanding of the natural world is painfully evident throughout modern history.
If human farmers allow them to live pleasantly and die painlessly, and other animals take their place, the arrangement seems acceptable.
That’s a big, unlikely “If.” The fact is, the vast majority of the animals being eaten did not live pleasantly or die painlessly. The subsequent animals taking their place live and die the same, in the same destructive system.
And, for more hubris regarding science,
Of course, the animals don’t have a choice in all this. But ideals of choice and consent aren’t applicable to creatures that don’t have rational thought.
You sound like a monster. If a creature (human or otherwise) was deemed to lack rational thought, denying choice and consent would act to protect that creature- not exploit them. Only monsters exploit the weaknesses of others for their own advantage.
There’s seemingly no end to any of this.
There is certainly no moral advantage to swearing off honey. Bees keep vegetable farmers in business. For that matter, why shouldn’t we keep chickens for their eggs, or cows for their milk?
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the author for explaining that honey isn’t vegan. As she correctly points out, it’s the same concept as chicken eggs and cow milk. Now I’d like to take this same opportunity to deride the author for her naivety. Bees do a better job for vegetable farmers when they are wild, natural bees- not weak, diseased domesticated bees.
…if animals are kept humanely, it’s a mutually advantageous relationship.
Another big, fucking “if.” I could disagree and argue your, “mutually advantageous relationship” all day, but back to the big, fucking “if.” If all the livestock animals were kept humanely for human consumption, they could never be produced on the massive scale they are presently. It’s simply not feasible economically. The number of humans on the globe desiring the taste for meat and other animal products would not allow it. Only cheap products can meet the demands of today, and “humane” meat isn’t cheap. Hell, without subsidies, many Americans couldn’t afford it. People in developing countries with expanding economies are demanding more meat. How will this demand be met- with “humanely raised, happy cows?” Your big “if” turns meat into a luxury only the rich will be able to afford. I’m the first to agree that the true cost of meat should be on the price tag, but I’m also one who questions the morality of such things produced solely for the wealthy at the expense of the less fortunate.
When I’ve become dumbfounded beyond belief that so much… shit has been spewed, I read this,
I’m just going to come right out and say it: My delight in a pot of chicken stock, and the delight of all the people I share it with, is worth more than the life of a barely self-aware chicken.
I’m just going to come right out and say it too: First, you’re an asshole. Chickens, like dogs, chimps, and humans are sentient beings and science has confirmed it knows little about non-human animal psychology. Your assumption is arrogant and self righteous, to say the least. Your delights cost more than the chicken you refer to. Perhaps the greatest cost is to the disservice you do to human compassion and intelligence. We all enjoy life’s pleasures, but what makes us moral, ethical beings is how we treat others- people, other animals, our natural environment- when pursuing those pleasures. Lastly, justifying your actions by playing the “intelligent, rational life-form with free-will” card, makes you appear, well, like an arrogant, self righteous asshole. It’s the same line of bullshit perpetuated through the ages that has destroyed civilizations and now brings our planet to the brink of environmental collapse.
Good day, all. I feel better now.
Charleen Angle writes for Your Daily Vegan as the Resident Vegan Contributor. An unapologetic vegan, her writing reflects her strong and passionate voice for the billions of animals that die needlessly each year.
Love. Vegan. Reggae.
Wanna know more? Charleen’s bio. Want to email her? Charleen’s email. Want to tweet her? Charleen’s twitter.
Cool ‘don’t eat animals’ T-shirt
And, by that, I mean this:
Now, tell me. Who can argue with this?
One can purchase this T at killshopkill.com, where we also learn that partial proceeds go to help fellow vegan, Jessie Lee, aka, OMGitsJessieLee. She was recently in a pretty horrible car wreck suffering some pretty horrible injuries, resulting in major surgery, so help out and GET THIS SHIRT. Jessie has incurred some serious brain injuries which have affected her ability to walk and have impaired her memory, so needless to say, she is focusing on recovery, not work. As I said before, help out and GET THIS SHIRT. It’s only $20, which will barely get you the typical designer BS everyone else is wearing.
And don’t be too pussy to wear it either.