7 ms·

> We kill the male calves May have been true a few decades ago, but currently the farmers will buy “sexed” sperm (selected for females). I’ve never seen a male

by jiofih 6y ago

> We kill the male calves May have been true a few decades ago, but currently the farmers will buy “sexed” sperm (selected for females). I’ve never seen a male calf being killed for that reason.

chrisseaton 6y ago
> I’ve never seen a male calf being killed. Well they don’t turn into veal steaks by themselves do they?
- throwaway8581 6y ago
  Yum.
watwut 6y ago
All the meat we eat are female cows?
- ajdude 6y ago
  No, but they’re probably not from male “dairy cows.”
- mgarfias 6y ago
  No, beef cows make calves. The heifers are kept to make more calves. The males are castrated and get turned into beef.
  - doodlebugging 6y ago
    In high school in Texas our Ag teacher described the castration part as "getting their minds off the ass and on the grass."
seanwilson 6y ago
Either way, a typical female dairy cow during its lifetime is made to give birth about 4 times (they don't give milk otherwise), each time its baby is taken away so maximum milk can be harvested and then the mother is killed about 5 years into its 20 year lifespan when it stops producing as much milk. This is the reality of profitable dairy farming and people don't like to be told about it or think about it. If you think it's wrong that some countries kill dolphins, dogs, whales, cats, sharks, horses etc. for food or use foxes, minks, rabbits etc. for fur, you should ask yourself why cheese, milk and leather are okay.
- novok 6y ago
  Most of them are not farmed in a sustainable cycle that prevents those animals from become endangered species? Or they think of the animals as pet animals. As for fur, I'm guessing it's because a moral panic happened in the 80s and nobody really cared that much about fur, since it was a luxury item for a few, while meat, milk and leather somewhat is something that everyone pretty much still uses today worldwide.
  - seanwilson 6y ago
    "Japan, Norway and Iceland who argue that whaling is part of their culture and should continue in a sustainable way." - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-45364696 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-45364696 Dogs, cats, foxes, mink and horses aren't endangered either, and the amount of meat developed countries eat is a luxury as well. My point is, if you're offended by the way other countries treat certain animals, you should think about if your use of animal products really aligns with your core beliefs or if you're going along with what's cultural to you without really thinking about it.
    - Swizec 6y ago
      Personally I’m not offended by how other countries treat non-endangered animals. I wouldnt eat dog, but totally understand how they’re basically a pest in some parts of the world. I do wish we find more humane ways to industrially raise livestock. Meat is way too cheap right now and we should reduce the intensity of its production. Humans dont need to eat meat at every meal like many of us do right now. It’s also a shame that we don’t breed dairy cows for more longevity. I’m sure they could be productive for almost all their natural lifespan if we let them. My grandparents had a small farm mostly for family use and it wasn’t uncommon to keep a cow for 10+ years. But they were treated almost lije pets. Each cow had a name and I think they rarely had more than 10 at a time. PS: horse burger is very tasty. I recommend trying it if you get a chance
    - mastazi 6y ago
      > Dogs, cats, foxes, mink and horses aren't endangered either And that's why I see no ethical issue there. > if you're offended by the way other countries treat certain animals, you should think about if your use of animal products really aligns with your core beliefs Being offended by something doesn't make it immoral though, it just makes it not advisable. I'm Italian and I grew up consuming rabbit meat and sometimes horse meat, my wife comes from a cultural background (Northern Thailand) where rabbit meat consumption is frowned upon, and I live in an anglophone country (Australia) where eating horse meat is taboo. So I don't consume either one of those. But I don't think it's immoral consuming them, I don't think my relatives in Italy who are still eating rabbit and horse are doing something immoral.

by jiofih 6y ago

chrisseaton 6y ago

> I’ve never seen a male calf being killed. Well they don’t turn into veal steaks by themselves do they?

throwaway8581 6y ago
Yum.

watwut 6y ago

All the meat we eat are female cows?

ajdude 6y ago
No, but they’re probably not from male “dairy cows.”
mgarfias 6y ago
No, beef cows make calves. The heifers are kept to make more calves. The males are castrated and get turned into beef.
- doodlebugging 6y ago
  In high school in Texas our Ag teacher described the castration part as "getting their minds off the ass and on the grass."

seanwilson 6y ago

Either way, a typical female dairy cow during its lifetime is made to give birth about 4 times (they don't give milk otherwise), each time its baby is taken away so maximum milk can be harvested and then the mother is killed about 5 years into its 20 year lifespan when it stops producing as much milk. This is the reality of profitable dairy farming and people don't like to be told about it or think about it. If you think it's wrong that some countries kill dolphins, dogs, whales, cats, sharks, horses etc. for food or use foxes, minks, rabbits etc. for fur, you should ask yourself why cheese, milk and leather are okay.

novok 6y ago
Most of them are not farmed in a sustainable cycle that prevents those animals from become endangered species? Or they think of the animals as pet animals. As for fur, I'm guessing it's because a moral panic happened in the 80s and nobody really cared that much about fur, since it was a luxury item for a few, while meat, milk and leather somewhat is something that everyone pretty much still uses today worldwide.
- seanwilson 6y ago
  "Japan, Norway and Iceland who argue that whaling is part of their culture and should continue in a sustainable way." - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-45364696 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-45364696 Dogs, cats, foxes, mink and horses aren't endangered either, and the amount of meat developed countries eat is a luxury as well. My point is, if you're offended by the way other countries treat certain animals, you should think about if your use of animal products really aligns with your core beliefs or if you're going along with what's cultural to you without really thinking about it.
  - Swizec 6y ago
    Personally I’m not offended by how other countries treat non-endangered animals. I wouldnt eat dog, but totally understand how they’re basically a pest in some parts of the world. I do wish we find more humane ways to industrially raise livestock. Meat is way too cheap right now and we should reduce the intensity of its production. Humans dont need to eat meat at every meal like many of us do right now. It’s also a shame that we don’t breed dairy cows for more longevity. I’m sure they could be productive for almost all their natural lifespan if we let them. My grandparents had a small farm mostly for family use and it wasn’t uncommon to keep a cow for 10+ years. But they were treated almost lije pets. Each cow had a name and I think they rarely had more than 10 at a time. PS: horse burger is very tasty. I recommend trying it if you get a chance
  - mastazi 6y ago
    > Dogs, cats, foxes, mink and horses aren't endangered either And that's why I see no ethical issue there. > if you're offended by the way other countries treat certain animals, you should think about if your use of animal products really aligns with your core beliefs Being offended by something doesn't make it immoral though, it just makes it not advisable. I'm Italian and I grew up consuming rabbit meat and sometimes horse meat, my wife comes from a cultural background (Northern Thailand) where rabbit meat consumption is frowned upon, and I live in an anglophone country (Australia) where eating horse meat is taboo. So I don't consume either one of those. But I don't think it's immoral consuming them, I don't think my relatives in Italy who are still eating rabbit and horse are doing something immoral.