This put me in mind of what I was watching on 'Jimmy's Farm' the other day, tackling the controversy of veal.
I'm generally not bothered by seeing animals slaughtered, might cringe seeing throats cut but thats just because the whole throat cutting thing is gross lol.
But they were talking about how 100,000 male dairy calves are taken away from their mums, stuck in a pen and within 12-24 hours of birth.. they are shot.
Not just shot but then 'melted' down into tallow? And used to fuel powerstations in Europe....
It then went to show this guy, Jimmy, going into a pen with the knacker man who just calmly walks up to a 12 hour old baby jersey calf and shoots it in the head, most humane thing i have ever seen, especially when the second and third were done before they even noticed what was going on.. but it was so awful, i actually cryed at the complete waste of life!
Its not cruel like keeping caged animals... but what a waste! We are wasting years of the dairy cows lives carrying calves to be only to be shot at birth, vet bills and medications cows might need during pregnancy (and these are the dairy cows producing our milk by the way!)... all the extra food they need... the extra care... only to fuel powerstations in Europe!?
All because people think veal is cruel? Veal is cruel in Europe where they don't have the same welfare standards! Farm welfare standards are much more strictly regulated than the RSPCA could ever enforce on people keeping pets!
If farmers could raise the young male calves and sell them for veal, it might help farmers get out of crises! Not having to pay the knacker man, not wasting time breeding for nothing and having a product to sell and make money!
The veal calves would be raised (in barns and/or fields depending on weather and time of year) until they are 6-7 months old and are given time to enjoy themselves up to a point. At least 6-7 months isnt a waste, its still a life!
The programe was absolutely priceless when, in an interview with the top dogs at Tescos, Jimmy put them on the line when they had to admit that their escalopes were made of EU veal that had been imported from the EU where the welfare levels were so low that they would never be allowed to raise calves in crates like that in the UK.
And yet people still buy the meat because they dont know different and/or just couldnt care less!
If you pick up a pack of meat in the supermarket, do you assume its british? Do you check? Do you care? Would you even consider that a company like Tescos still buys in mean that has been kept in apalling onditions? They admitted that all their veal comes from the EU so see the difference....
EU veal calves for the whole 6 months of their lives live like this:
In the UK, they have much more space:
Here is the link the an artical about Jimmy Doherty's plan for British veal:
http
/www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/29/05/2012/133162/Jimmy-Doherty-tackles-veal-issue-in-new-TV-series.htm
Im trying to see if their is a clip of his interview where he corners Tescos as it really is priceless!