What would you do if your neighbor kept her puppy permanently caged, never letting him out to exercise or relieve himself? And what if that cage was a narrow crate and the puppy was chained by the neck so he could not turn around or even lie down with his legs outstretched? You’d probably call the police and have her charged with animal cruelty. That’s how the vast majority of veal calves are treated. It’s legal for precisely that reason – legal because it is done to the vast majority and is therefore considered standard treatment. Standard agricultural practices are exempt from the anticruelty statutes of most states.
Veal calves are the waste product of the dairy industry. A day or two after birth they are taken from their mothers and placed in crates. They are fed an iron-deficient diet to make them anemic so their flesh will stay the pretty light color so enjoyed by gourmands…One veal-production magazine warned its readers, “Keep all iron out of reach of your calves.” Even iron nails cannot be used in stalls, as the calves will lick at them and ruin the light color of their flesh.
When veal calves are slaughtered at sixteen weeks they are often too sick to walk. One out of every ten veal calves dies in confinement.
If you feel mentally and emotionally prepared, Farm Sanctuary offers images of the reality of veal calves and dairy cows for your viewing.
