Thursday, June 15, 2006
Blech
Free Range Veal
"Traditionally, veal is considered a male dairy calf that is raised until it's about 16 to 18 weeks old.
"Under conventional production methods, the calf is separated within three days of birth from its mother and fed a milk replacer, which critics claim causes anemia. The calves' lives are spent in individual stalls "to allow veal farmers and veterinarians to closely monitor the health of each calf," the USDA says. But critics say stalls and crates cruelly confine the animals so they can't move their muscles, which produces the trademark tenderness of the meat.
"Under new USDA standards on the humane handling of livestock, free-range calves are kept with their mothers up to six months and graze on grass or are fed grain and hay. Feed tags are kept to verify ingredients. They are not given implanted or synthetic hormones or growth-enhancement drugs. They have free access to the outdoors for a significant portion of their lives and are never confined to a feedlot."
* This is the least shocking picture I could find on veal calves. I hate the way I feel when I see pictures like that, so don't want to subject them on you unwitting folks. But if you do want to see the full picture, do a google image search.
Something about this really gets me... I guess the mention of keeping these calves with their mothers. It's obvious an issue of maintaining optimal health for the calves, but I don't know if anyone would deny that a baby cow should be with its mother. I've seen a mamacat in action, and there's no doubt in my mind that non-human animals feel love and tenderness for their babies. And when you recognize that, then why the heck would you think it's okay to eat him? And I ain't just talkin' veal here.
It seems so logical to me that it's pretty amazing that people disagree with me. Hmpf. ¶ 11:14 AM
"Traditionally, veal is considered a male dairy calf that is raised until it's about 16 to 18 weeks old.
"Under conventional production methods, the calf is separated within three days of birth from its mother and fed a milk replacer, which critics claim causes anemia. The calves' lives are spent in individual stalls "to allow veal farmers and veterinarians to closely monitor the health of each calf," the USDA says. But critics say stalls and crates cruelly confine the animals so they can't move their muscles, which produces the trademark tenderness of the meat.
"Under new USDA standards on the humane handling of livestock, free-range calves are kept with their mothers up to six months and graze on grass or are fed grain and hay. Feed tags are kept to verify ingredients. They are not given implanted or synthetic hormones or growth-enhancement drugs. They have free access to the outdoors for a significant portion of their lives and are never confined to a feedlot."
* This is the least shocking picture I could find on veal calves. I hate the way I feel when I see pictures like that, so don't want to subject them on you unwitting folks. But if you do want to see the full picture, do a google image search.
Something about this really gets me... I guess the mention of keeping these calves with their mothers. It's obvious an issue of maintaining optimal health for the calves, but I don't know if anyone would deny that a baby cow should be with its mother. I've seen a mamacat in action, and there's no doubt in my mind that non-human animals feel love and tenderness for their babies. And when you recognize that, then why the heck would you think it's okay to eat him? And I ain't just talkin' veal here.
It seems so logical to me that it's pretty amazing that people disagree with me. Hmpf. ¶ 11:14 AM
