There are some very harsh facts worthy of consideration to help a consumer decide if they want to continue supporting the veal industry:
Veal comes from male calves born to dairy cows. Dairy cows are bred once a year, for the express purpose of keeping their milk supply flowing. Their gestation period is 9 months long, like humans, and they continue being used for human milk production 7 out of those 9 months. After approximately 60 days and shortly after giving birth, the milk cow returns to the production line. "Both male and female offspring of dairy cows are normally removed from cows soon after giving birth. This separation allows dairy cows to return to the herd and produce milk for human consumption" (The Veal Farm). The baby calves are then separated based on gender, with the females being raised to replace older (3-4 years old), less productive milk cows. The male calves are chained in individual crates or stalls that measure only 22 inches by 58 inches to minimize movement and that is where they live for their entire lives. The calves endure physical and psychological stress from their confinement. From a production standpoint, when a calf's movements are restricted to laying down and getting up, very little muscle mass is developed. Weak muscles are tender muscles.
Borderline anemic muscles are very tender, very light pink muscles. The calves are fed a milk based diet with as little iron as possible to reduce the level of myoglobin (iron content) in the muscle. Myoglobin produces the red pigment that colors the meat of an adult cow. The reduced iron content (and subsequent borderline anemia) in a calf's muscle translates into tender, light pink meat.
There has been much outcry by animal rights groups regarding the conditions veal calves endure. In a nod to the animal rights groups, the American Veal Association passed a resolution calling for the veal industry to phase out the use of individual crates and stalls. "The American Veal Association's recommended ten-year phaseout is a long time, especially considering that the nation's largest veal producers have already committed to a two-year phaseout, but it is a step in the right direction that further makes the writing on the wall clear: Veal crates are too cruel and inhumane even for the veal industry to continue defending"(HSUS 2007).
An excellent way for consumers to let the veal industry (and all animal industries) know inhumane practices will not be tolerated is with their dollars. If a consumer cannot give up their veal, a shift towards buying locally instead of supporting huge farming corporations is a good start.
Works Cited
"Industry Information, Frequently Asked Questions", The Veal Farm,
2004 Cattlemen's Beef Board, www.vealfarm.com
"Say No to Veal", A Farm Sanctuary Campaign, www.noveal.org
"Statement on American Veal Association's Veal Crate Announcement", The Human Society of the United States, August 6, 2007,
www.hsus.com/press_and_publications/press_releases
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1 comment:
I hardly eat veal anymore except when eating out Itialian, since 1970's they use antibiotics (bad)to produce the spongy meat.
But before that!they were just milk fed( good.)
A strong man eats meat, a weak man eats the herbs of the field.
Just think they make our chickens eat antibotic's (bad) since 1970's
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