Humane Veal Production, WHAT?
I was recently reading a copy of Arizona Veterinary News. It’s a publication for veterinarians here in Arizona. I love many veterinarians. I have four dogs so we visit vets often. My brother and sister-in-law are vets. They help a lot of animals and save lives every day.
But there are also vets that work on factory farms. Now hopefully for the most part they are there to help keep the animals healthy for both the animal and their human consumers. A few years ago Arizona voted in favor of a proposition much like the Prop. 2 in California that just passed. It called for better treatment of farm animals by imposing greater regulation on the use of veal crates and pig gestational crates. While this is going to help make things better for some animals on factory farms, the reality is they are still living on factory farms.
What struck me most about the Arizona Veterinary News story was that in reaction (I assume) to the proposition that was passed state-wide, the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association adopted a policy that calls for “veal calf housing systems that allow animals greater freedom of movement.” So this means the little cows will not have to have their heads chained down (I hope). BUT it still means they will be confined, fed horrible gruel, and lack nutrition, exercise and socialization. While I want to be happy for even an inch of progress sometimes the magnitude of the situation seems so huge that even a little step seems like not enough.
“AVMA recognizes that veal calf production is well established, can be humane, and can ensure the welfare of calves”.
Hmmmmmmm, REALLY? Exactly what can be humane about it? The confinement? The lack of real food? Their inability to run in the grass and frolic like a calf should? Or is it the part where they get shot in the head with a high-pressure gun that makes their little grey matter splatter all over the place? Or when their little bodies are carved up into pieces … sometimes while they are still conscious?
I just don’t buy this crap. What is wrong with these folks who have taken a oath to ensure the welfare of animals and yet think this treatment of baby calves is humane? I would love to hear a vets opinion on how exactly the treatment of veal calves is humane if any are brave enough to read this blog. I ask … would you take a 2-3 month old puppy, lock him in a crate without ever being able to go outside, shoot him, eat him and call him delicious?
It’s the same practice as humanely euthanising young children that misbehave…wait, they DON’T do that? But why? Aren’t things that are done HUMANELY OK? 😛