Have You Ever Thought

[Stargazer]

how cows milk is made available fresh every day in billions of litres? It has to come from a lactating calfs mother who after giving birth, has her baby snatched away from her in order that the milk intended for her calf can be extracted mechanically for humans use. I cannot imagine the cries she makes when this takes place and can still her calf crying for its mother.

[Stargazer]

"heather calf"

[Stargazer]

"hear her calf" predictive text again!

[bhg481]

The calf is only given life so that the cow can give us some of her milk. Would you rather the calf was never born because, without our want for milk, it wouldn't be.

[Stargazer]

Yes I would rather a calf is not bred only to be snatched from its mother who will have a horrible life being milk daily by a machine. These are sentient animals and we are not.

[ToraToraTora]

....and as an added bonus, we can eat it too! Isn't nature amazing?

[-SharonA-]

Stargazer switch to almond milk to ease your conscience.

[Deskdiary]

Indeed Tora.

I love veal, but I especially love calves liver with pancetta and sage butter

[bhg481]

If animals didn't want to be eaten they wouldn't make their meat so tasty.

[ladybirder]

My daughter will only drink plant based milk. Thinking about what you have said Stargazer, I'm going to do the same. So Thank You for this post.

[Stargazer]

Ladybirder and to anyone who has witnessed a baby animal being taken from its mother, it is horrible to watch their grieving. Chimps and monkeys and also elephants and bears, although it is no longer legal to do this to protected species. However, cows are not protected so we can treat them like a renewable commodity (sarcasm intended). There are numerous plant based milk products available. You would not see a newborn foal being whipped away from its mother. You only have to see what amazing mothers all animals make instinctively in the wild as well as your domestic pets.

[nailit]

As a meat eater/ animal consumer,
I can absolutely agree.
Ive also worked on a farm and know how badly
animals are treated.

BUT I can also see how nature works.
Ever see a cat play with a mouse before it eats it?
Ever witnessed how a Lion will eat a Gazzelle alive?
Or how a shark will rip to bits other sea life?

Red in tooth and claw
(Unfortunetely)

[barry1010]

Stargazer if we all stopped consuming dairy products we couldn't afford to eat beef or wear leather. Then there would be no cattle at all.
What would pet owners feed to their dogs and cats?
Where would the natural, excellent fertiliser come from to grow our crops?

[barry1010]

Every puppy and kitten bought from a breeder has been taken from its mother. Is that different?

[mallyh]

what about all the puppies and kittens taken away from their mums ?

[burlyshirley]

I agree with you Stargazer and I am going to do the same as lb as well.

Humans basically, are scum, with a few nice ones thrown in here and there.

[mallyh]

barry snap x

[barry1010]

mally, my daughter is a very committed vegan but doesn't want the whole world to be because she loves her rescued cats and dogs. She boils up offal to feed them and the meat has to come from somewhere, it would be bizarre to breed animals just to feed pets

[Atheist]

Stargazer. Sadly, most people think it too disturbing to think about what you have said, because it would make their lives uncomfortable. I'm not Vegan, and I don't preach about the evils of meat eating, but I do agree with you. I expect to be attacked soon as a hypocrite.
Some of the arguments here are a bit weird.
1 If we didn't eat baby animals or take them from their mothers so that we can drink their milk then there would be no new baby animals born and that would deprive them of the opportunity to have lived (see bhg481). Perhaps substitute another word for animals and then what would you think?
2 I like eating meat, so I don't care what the animals think or feel. Perhaps substitute another word for animals and then what would you think?

I think there is a not surprising attitude that animals are not really important. After all, we evolved eating whatever was available, and that naturally involved killing animals. Possibly always thought of as a bit off, hence the rites of respect paid to animals of the hunt by the hunters. They knew they were taking life and they knew they were dependent on taking life and so they often ritually apologised to the prey. Nowadays, 'life' is pink stuff in a plastic wrapper that tastes good when mum (or the Mac server) gives it to you ready prepared. (Please don't tell little Penelope that chicken nuggets are mad out of those lovely chicks we saw on the famr this holiday! It might upset her.)

[douglas9401]

One can overthink things.

[Atheist]

Dougie; one can also underthink things. What's the problem with thinking about what Stargazer said?