Most male calves are sold into organic meat farms once they reach 6 months. As far as I know they’re raised further till they’re fully grown at around two years old. But I’m no expert on this. From time to time we keep one for the herd.
Female calves are either sold to other organic dairy farms or we keep them and raise them ourselves. No calf is killed except for medical emergencies.
Unfortunatly, this confirms what i suspected. Male cows, at the very least, are a byproduct of organic milk production. So consuming it still is contributing to animals being killed, albeit more indirectly.
For me, that is the red line i wouldn’t want to cross.
I don’t see how those male calves live a life in dignity, but i respect that your line is different from mine. Thanks again for giving me a glimpse into the industry, that was very informative.
As I said, I’m vegetarian mostly for environmental reasons and I’m okay with killing animals as long as they’re allowed to live a dignified life and the killing is done in a humane way. Both of these are ensured by the EU-BIO regulations and even more so by the Bioland, Naturland and Demeter labels.
Again, for me a dignified life includes, access to fresh pastures, a herd and enough room and shelter for the animals. Meat cattle get all of those in organic farms and that’s good enough for me.
[…]the killing is done in a humane way. Both of these are ensured by the EU-BIO regulations […]
There is, to the beat of my knowledge, no difference in the methods of slaughtering for conventional and organic cattle in the EU. They are processed seperatly, but that is the only regulation i know of. Happy to be corrected if you know something else.
Some organic farm slaughter animals on their own, to ensure a humane death, so there is that i guess.
Still, this is where our moral framework differs then, as i do see it as unethical to kill any being without need. For me the knowledge that an animal had a good life isn’t enough.
For one i can’t guarantee that it was a good life: maybe they were mistreated without any control instance realising it. And of course we can’t ask them.
I wouldn’t apply that standard to humans.If a human child is murdered by somebody i would never say: It’s okay that they were killed, because they were a happy child with a good life. I don’t see why i should change this view just because it’s a non human animal beeing killed.
Differnt to many other vegans i am fine with you having a different moral position. I still think that i am right, but it is my truth. I have to and can live with different truths that contradict each other co-existing.
So, no hate from my side. I sincerely thank you for the information you have shared here, i have learned some things and feel that i have a better grasp of the matter at hand, while still feeling validated in my previous position. Thank you.
Most male calves are sold into organic meat farms once they reach 6 months. As far as I know they’re raised further till they’re fully grown at around two years old. But I’m no expert on this. From time to time we keep one for the herd.
Female calves are either sold to other organic dairy farms or we keep them and raise them ourselves. No calf is killed except for medical emergencies.
Once more, thanks.
Unfortunatly, this confirms what i suspected. Male cows, at the very least, are a byproduct of organic milk production. So consuming it still is contributing to animals being killed, albeit more indirectly.
For me, that is the red line i wouldn’t want to cross.
I don’t see how those male calves live a life in dignity, but i respect that your line is different from mine. Thanks again for giving me a glimpse into the industry, that was very informative.
As I said, I’m vegetarian mostly for environmental reasons and I’m okay with killing animals as long as they’re allowed to live a dignified life and the killing is done in a humane way. Both of these are ensured by the EU-BIO regulations and even more so by the Bioland, Naturland and Demeter labels.
Again, for me a dignified life includes, access to fresh pastures, a herd and enough room and shelter for the animals. Meat cattle get all of those in organic farms and that’s good enough for me.
There is, to the beat of my knowledge, no difference in the methods of slaughtering for conventional and organic cattle in the EU. They are processed seperatly, but that is the only regulation i know of. Happy to be corrected if you know something else.
Some organic farm slaughter animals on their own, to ensure a humane death, so there is that i guess.
Still, this is where our moral framework differs then, as i do see it as unethical to kill any being without need. For me the knowledge that an animal had a good life isn’t enough.
For one i can’t guarantee that it was a good life: maybe they were mistreated without any control instance realising it. And of course we can’t ask them.
I wouldn’t apply that standard to humans.If a human child is murdered by somebody i would never say: It’s okay that they were killed, because they were a happy child with a good life. I don’t see why i should change this view just because it’s a non human animal beeing killed.
Differnt to many other vegans i am fine with you having a different moral position. I still think that i am right, but it is my truth. I have to and can live with different truths that contradict each other co-existing.
So, no hate from my side. I sincerely thank you for the information you have shared here, i have learned some things and feel that i have a better grasp of the matter at hand, while still feeling validated in my previous position. Thank you.