Quote:
Originally Posted by GGG
Well milk cows are genetically bread so that they produce so much milk that they can die if not properly weened off milking. I drink milk but if you want to consider the ethics off it milk production certainly isnt as clean as the ideal farmer who has a cow that they milk by hand and is a pet.
As soon as the cows go dry they are slaughtered.
I think the important thing is having going through the thought process and deciding if you are comfortable with the practice. Know what happens in a slaughterhouse, feedlot etc and make your decision. To many people dont question how food is produced. More people need to pluck chickens or have pig roasts or hunt and fish or even just boiling a live lobster. Being the actual agent in killing your food is an important experience and without it I am not sure you can make an informed decision on whether or not to eat meat.
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I totally agree with this.
I did my research on how beef cows, milk cows, pigs, egg chickens etc. are both treated and slaughtered as I did have some concerns about animal welfare. I love animals in general but also do enjoy meat.
I found I was generally comfortable with how beef cows in Canada are raised and slaughtered (assuming slaughterhouses follow regs), however had some significant concerns about how milk cows, pigs and egg chickens were raised, and changed my buying habits accordingly.
I drink only organic milk now as organic milk cows are required to have at least 30% outdoor grazing time (grass), unlike regular milk cows who generally cannot move and are fed foods which maximize milk production (non grass) which results in significant lameness. They are generally kept in filthy conditions on concrete and fed antibiotics to prevent infection as their legs slowly give out. Organic milk calves after birth are allowed to stay near other calves instead of being kept by themselves.
I also only eat organic eggs, as the chickens are given free range, perches and nests, and have about 6 times more space per chicken than the average battery cage chicken.
I have no problem eating meat/eating animal products, but unnecessary cruelty is not worth the extra $2 or $3 bucks a week I might spend on eggs/milk.
I also have a huge issue with how horses are slaughtered in Canada. Won't get into it here, but it is pretty disgusting.