This is not meant to be some secular, vegan sermon from the mount. I get little pleasure in alienating myself from well-intentioned, goodhearted individuals, but some stuff just needs to be said.
I’d been vegetarian for years before I went vegan. I was never any good at watching those PETA videos, or reading in detail all the horrors endured by farmed animals at the merciless hands of fellow human beings. I thought no further than that consuming the flesh of a murdered animal was wrong.
Prior to my veganism, I was participating in what most call the ‘alternative’ (read: elite) food economy, happily paying the premiums associated with organic milk, free run eggs, etc. As far as I understood, so long as the animal products that I consumed were produced in this alternative way, there was no real moral dilemma. While I now fight feelings of guilt over believing this for so long, I also believe this misperception to be the intention of the animal agriculture industry whose hegemonic influence controls and shapes so much of the dialogue and discourse on food systems.
As bought into and morally comfortable as I was with supporting alternative animal agriculture, there were many critical truths hidden from me, and five in particular I want to share today. I say ‘hidden’ because they were in the truest sense of the word. I was one of those individuals who even visited the farms where my food came from, and I assure you if any of the following critical truths had been made even a smidgen clear to me, I’d have become vegan a lot sooner. It is my sincerest intention that this piece may potentially save you the time and heartache of finding out why vegetarianism, though a great start, isn’t enough.
Critical truth #1: The male calves
I never once as a vegetarian thought about what happened to all the calves born to pregnant cows. I never thought about this because I’d never cognitively processed that cows need to be kept impregnated in order to produce milk (and don’t feel foolish if you didn’t either!). While I was living in the fantasy world of no-meat = no-cruelty, I had no idea that the male calves born to pregnant dairy cows end up as the veal on the plate of some person whose face I want to kick in. I’ll never forget the moment I learned this– I felt duped, betrayed by all the promises made by the dairy companies I’d supported about welfare being the highest priority. If intentionally impregnating female animals and slaughtering their baby animals can be described as taking animal suffering seriously, then by that same standard John Wayne Gacy would have been a great babysitter. And the same goes for all dairy. When we consume a cow, sheep or goat’s milk, we are actively participating in the deaths of these baby animals.
Critical truth #2: The male chicks
Because farmed animals are seen as commodities (no different than say, car parts), when particular animals are seen as purposeless, they are discarded in ways that a psychologist would say must reflect some committed hatred for these little beings. Male chicks who are born onto farms serve no economic ‘function’ and are therefore disposed of in heinous ways. As though spawned from the imagination of some sociopath on steroids, chicks are thrown into grinders, manure pits, etc. When we consume eggs (regardless of whether the carton says ‘free-range’, ‘free-run’, ‘organic’) we are actively participating in this barbarism.
Critical truth #3: The ‘spent’ dairy cows
In my world, when someone retires there is generally a store-bought cake served on party napkins, greeting cards rife with bland jokes about what retirement life will entail, and one of the higher ups gives you a fancy watch. What does a dairy cow get after a life of service (a job she never applied for)? She gets ground into hamburger, that’s what. Despite having life expectancies of 20 years or more, most dairy cows are sent to slaughter as soon as their production decreases (at about 3 or 4 years of age). So by supporting dairy, we are participating in and supporting the meat industry, as it is ‘spent’ dairy cows who end up as the ‘lower quality’ meat in your grocery store.
Critical truth #4: Dairy is a feminist issue
Despite calling myself a feminist since I was a kid (which cost me big time on the playground), and despite having a rich understanding of feminist theory, it had somehow escaped my worldview that the mass, institutionalized control of female farmed animals is the entire basis of the dairy industry (and the meat industry too for that matter). The same dominionistic, patriarchal energy that has siloed men and women (‘us’ versus ‘them’), is responsible for the mammoth sized schism between humans and non-humans. Female cows have their babies stolen from them (sometimes at only a few hours old) and killed for food. Female pigs are confined and constrained in gestation and farrowing crates, and all female farmed animals have their reproductive systems controlled by a profit-thirsty, industrial system designed and perpetuated by a worldview that sees them as mere units, commodities, or capital (instead of as thinking, feeling, individuals). I now understand dairy to be the feminist issue.
Critical truth #5: Sneaky buggers
One thing I learned through my graduate work, is that so long as citizens shift their dollars to alternatively produced animal products (i.e.: ones with stated ‘welfare standards’; ‘organic’; ’antibiotic free’, etc.) animal-use industries will find a way to co-opt the jargon, the packaging, the colour schemes and the narratives that come with them. Take for example the carton that paints a picture of quaint rurality that communicates several things: a) Old MacDonald lives here b) the cows are free to roam the pasture and appear healthy/happy c) this is an environmentally sustainable, ‘natural’ product. While this sort of packaging may have once been reserved for the organic, alternative (elite) supply markets– today’s eater (hopefully due to their empathetic nature) expects more, and industry is cleverly responding. So long as we settle or concede that the consumption of animals (in any way) is acceptable, we also create massive, lucrative opportunities for industry (with their gargantuan budgets) to convince people that their products pass some arbitrary ‘checklist’ for animal welfare, environment sustainability, etc.
I hope, dear vegetarians, that you’ll consider confronting the hypocrisy of abstaining from flesh while consuming dairy and eggs (which support and result in the same suffering and death one seeks to avoid as a vegetarian). May all the beautiful, empathetic reasons you decided to become vegetarian be the same reasons you decide to go vegan!
PS: I have been working on a straightforward visual representation of some of the major issues associated with consuming dairy. It can be found here, please share it far and wide!
Great list!
“I never once as a vegetarian thought about what happened to all the calves born to pregnant cows.”
This was one of the big things that changed me from a vegetarian to a vegan (almost three years ago). It had never really “clicked” with me before and I’m certain that most omnivores don’t really grasp this reality either.
At the time, I was reading a book by Tom Regan called Empty Cages: Facing the Challenge of Animal Rights. Very eye-opening and vegan-persuasive at the same time.
I like the graphic you made, too.
Josh
Awesome!! thanks
KAP POW!
Are you me? (actually, I’m male so probably not.) I agree spot-on with everything- particularly your last point which people rarely mention. I find completely odious how these pictures are used to manipulate people’s beliefs. I think vegetarians (recently-made ones) are especially vulnerable, because their removal from the meat they are used to being around and eating drives them to embrace alternatives- and what “better” alternative than dairy or egg, which not only provides B12 but are easily found in vegetarian fare (at restaurants, at home, etc.)?
“some person whose face I want to kick in” sounds like animal cruelty to me…
Violent and hateful talk is cruelty. This, coming from a vegan so I’m on your side. I feel so very sorry for people who do not understand the cruelty involved in their diet and not everyone comprehends this. I would never wish violence on them. That’s sort of like “an eye for an eye” philosophy and it gets us nowhere. I only wish I could reach them, not kick them. Anyway, no need to respond because I am done with your blog after seeing the sad way you can’t even recognize your own flaw.
These are the words that kept me from sharing an otherwise very well written article.
I think you make some good points, but I also think there are farms out there that don’t treat the animals as inhumanely as you say. I live in Northern California though, so I guess it’s not hard for me to drive out to some of them myself. It might be harder if you live elsewhere in the country. I used to be vegan too because I knew all of these sad truths about the dairy industry as well as the meat industry, but then I started buying from local Santa Cruz farms where I could see that every animal on the farm served a purpose and animals weren’t thrown away because they weren’t useful economically. Anyone who is in farming knows that chickens, even the male ones, serve a purpose on a farm, and that it’s not economical to just throw them away. I learned most of this stuff while reading the Omnivore’s Dilemma a while back; got me really interested in farming practices on farms that actually do it right.
So don’t despair! There is a way to eat dairy and chicken eggs without foregoing your morals and beliefs. And I find that the best way to fight the large centralized factory farms is by buying locally and forcing a competitor onto the market. I think that’s the way that the system can be revolutionized.
I would actually like it if you would attack my arguments. If you have time later to respond I would greatly appreciate it because we could actually have a conversation instead of you telling me I’m simply wrong.
True compassion and understanding our fellow creatures that we share this planet with involves acknowledging their sentience. We assume they’re just dumb animals, yet science has shown us that their sense of smell is far superior, eyesight and hearing too. They headed for high ground an hour ahead of the Tsunami in Indonesia … where humans went to the beach to wonder at the receding water. Many of them know numerous words in our vocabulary … yet we know little or none of theirs in return.
They are not inferior to us except perhaps in their utter lack of an ability to be cruel and selfish. You cannot “humanely” enslave them and force them into a life of servitude to produce mother’s milk to an entirely different species who seem unable to be weened in their lifetime.
There is no humane slaughter. We, ourselved call it “capital punishment” when we do it to our own kind. It is punishment ~ its the taking of their life that they arent agreeable to giving. We take them in their youth, having never tasted freedom.
We can not only survive without these barbaric practices ~ we can THRIVE. We can greatly lower our risk of heart disease, certain of the most common cancers, degenerative diseases (such as fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis) as well as diabetes. Vegans live an average of 6 to 10 years longer than the general population.
What I enjoy most, is knowing I am not contributing to rainforest destruction (most is going for cattle grazing), climate change (animal agriculture contributes more to greenhouse gasses than all the forms of global transportation combined), human starvation (70% of the corn, oats and soy grown on the planet go to feed livestock), and of course, the staggering scope of animal suffering. I enjoy a clean conscience. I would wish the same for you and anyone ~ it would be a far better world.
I’ll bite.
“Anyone who is in farming knows that chickens, even the male ones, serve a purpose on a farm, and that it’s not economical to just throw them away.” Really? No. This is patently incorrect.
There are two types of chickens raised commercially (more than that, breedwise but just two types overall), egg hens and broilers. The males of the egg laying species are not valuable to the industry. They are too small and slow growing to be used as meat birds. They cannot lay eggs. They are not needed for breeding. These chicks ARE macerated very shortly after hatching. This is done at the hatcheries – where 99.9% of egg producers (even small ones) get their stock.
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/hatchery/
That’s one of the major hatcheries. One of the biggest. The UEP have said, flat out, that male chicks are useless in the industry and are disposed of: “If someone has a need for 200 million male chicks, we’re happy to provide them to anyone who wants them,” says UEP spokesman Mitch Head. “But we can find no market, no need.”
If you want to eat truly humane eggs, adopt a rescued hen. Feed her 1 or 2 of every 3 eggs she lays to replenish her calcium levels.
Never slaughter her. Treat her like family. If you eat that egg, it is humane. Not vegan, but humane.
Commercial eggs, no matter how small or how “nicely” they are treated = dead rooster chicks and, inevitably, dead hens when they are no longer
viable layers. Eggs aren’t painless, deathless or cruelty free. Period.
The OP seems to have a focus on dairy, and she’s 100% right that dairy calves are ALSO disposed of.
My main focus is eggs. To read this post saying that this doesn’t happen is disheartening. It does.
There is no such thing as a humane, commercial egg. No such thing as humane dairy. The male animals DO get
killed, even on small farms.
My college pal’s father ran a small dairy farm. A family farm.
Did they keep the male calves? Did the female calves get to stay with their moms?
No. Absolutely not. The males calves went to auction (for veal, most likely) and the females were taken away and
kept in stalls in a barn, fed formula and weren’t able to suck or have the comfort of their mothers. They cried.
That barn was clean and dry, they were fed and healthy. But they were in small pens, alone, and they cried.
Mikaela,
Your response: “There is a way to eat dairy and chicken eggs without foregoing your morals and beliefs” is sadly very, very false.
When we use animals as things, however “humanely”, we commidify them in such a way that we disregard their right not to be our resources or property. To be someone’s property (human or nonhuman) means that your inherent right *not* to be someone else’s “thing” is being violated. Like humans, nonhumans also have this right. It is inherent to all of us, meaning that it isn’t something humans have created to benefit the “animal cause.” So, for example, even if I have a backyard chicken, and I take her eggs, but I treat her as I would my beloved dog, I am still neglecting her inherent right not to be a means to my ends.
“Humane” use harms animals because it violates this right. The use does not have to be visibly apparent (although most often times, it is). I think, like many large scale welfare organizations and vegans, you’re focusing too much on “visible” cruelty and cruelty in itself, rather than the fact that even without apparent cruelty, one being should not be the resource of another.
There is no way to use animals humanely because it always involves the underlying, non-visible belief that they are objects for our use. That belief always leads to putting our desires — however unnecessary, like consuming them for food, clothing, entertainment, etc. — above theirs. So you see, their abuse is always followed by our *using* them, in the first place. Even *if* that abuse isn’t egregious or “horrific.”
Even when it benefits an animal *more* to not be consumed, like in the case of human diets, we convince ourselves that if “we do it right” then it is morally justifiable to use them.
It isn’t. It is morally unjustifiable to use any being, human or nonhuman, however kindly, when it is unnecessary to do so.
I sincerely hope that you do not feel condescended or otherwise attacked by any of these statements. I just want to help you see that you already believe that is is wrong to cause unnecessary harm to animals — that’s why you sought out a “humane” farm — but animal use, however humane, still harms animals unnecessarily. So really, you’re cheating your own beliefs. It is clear that by seeking out a *seemingly* “less cruel” method of consuming animals, that you care about them. I hope you care enough to re-consider veganism.
Respecting animals means going vegan. Please visit: http://www.veganpamphlet.com and http://bostonvegan.org/faq for more info.
Thanks for your nicely written article.
I am a vegan since 5 months, when I saw Gary Yourofsky s speach on you tube.
Great work.
I’m vegetarian but leaning towards veganism. I agree with everything, except #4. Female animals feel more pain or their pain is more important than males’ for some reason? You trying to correlate veg*nism with women’s rights is a good reason for me to call bullshit on feminism. Perhaps I should take the converse male-centric approach to the extreme and start eating meat again, as long I could be assured that it came from female animals. But that would be just stupid.
Do you think that if bull ejaculate was considered a great drink, and testicles and prostates considered delicacies, that the meat industry wouldn’t take advantage of that? To think that the meatheads in the industry would somehow treat males better is crazy. In fact, if raising humans for meat were legal, they’d probably do that too. It has absolutely nothing to do with gender.
I wholeheartedly agree, the 4th argument is invalid. Females happen to produce milk and give offspring, both of which are commercially desired. It has nothing to do with female exploitation (also, generally a human-related term). Bulls are bred for fighting, but if it were cows that were stronger and more furious when provoked, they would breed females.The reasons for that are practical, not sexist – you could not get milk from a bull even if you’d like to.
Apart from that, nice clear argumentation.
That’s you’ve never given it any thought doesn’t make it absurd. It’s your understanding that is lacking, not the validity of her point. Your comment smacks of, “Enjoy the rights we’ve granted you, quit your bitching, and don’t bring up dirty words like feminism, sugar.”
And not for nothin’, but if you have to go looking up definitions on wikipedia, of all things, you were never arguing from a position of knowledge or comprehension in the first place.
“enjoy the rights we’ve granted you, quit your bitching, and don’t bring up dirty words like feminism, sugar”
oh how i love this!!!
I’ve given thought to the gender of factory farmed animals before and so have many others. Her point is valid for me and for those who can start to understand or are open to thinking about where her thoughts are coming from. It’s really ok if our interpretations and reasons for our choices differ. After all, Whatever the Thinker thinks, the Prover proves.
Perhaps I’m offended by this. Why does gender need to be relevant? Are you suggesting that if only male animals were slaughtered or maltreated, that you might consider eating meat? Serious question.
When I gave up meat 10 years ago, I never once thought of gender. Females go through abuse (milking, constantly having to lay eggs, calves and chicks taken away), and males through other forms (confined for veal; male chicks thrown away live in bags or ground up). To me, abuse is abuse. The author’s point is offensive because it suggests (at least to me) that male animals are less deserving of respect due to some sort of retribution for human female oppression.
I agree with your post – especially the dairy points.
what are your thoughts on sustainable fish?
Fine.
Merriam-Webster: the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes
Cambridge: the belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way, or the set of activities intended to achieve this state
dictionary.com: the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men.
Wiktionary: A social theory or political movement supporting the equality of both sexes in all aspects of public and private life; specifically, a theory or movement that argues that legal and social restrictions on females must be removed in order to bring about such equality.
Nope. Nothing relating to animals. Before I go on to read from your suggested authors, can you tell me how many cows have done so too?
I’m not trying to be disrespectful. In my mind, your first three points are poignant and valid. Gender is irrelevant (and when I say that, I mean that both should be respected). If there’s more to feminism, then I’m surely ignorant of it. But I still contend that, using the commoner’s understanding of the term (as evidenced by the definitions above), your 4th point is invalid or, even through an expanded definition, unnecessary.
P.S. Great article, I will definitely pass this on to some friends.
I agree, well said.
As a vegetarian with no intention of becoming vegan thank you for settling this for me. I had been debating about spending the extra money I’ve been spending on free range, organic when I’ve got a baby on the way. From a moral standpoint it truely isn’t much better, I feel bad about the money I’ve wasted over the past couple of years. More money into my kid’s college fund with about the same amount of guilt makes sense to me. Thank you.
I get an organic veg box once a week and they are soon going to be selling slaughter free milk (and also eggs, although no information is available on this as yet). I will provide a link, but in essence a portion of the profits are put into a ‘pension’ fund for the older animals who can no longer produce milk. There will be a closed herd of 95 cows. No animals will be killed. All animals will remain within the herd.
My feeling is that this has got to be the way forward, but only if it’s done absolutely in the way outlined by people who genuinely care about animals over profit as these people appear to do. I think humans and animals can and do form symbiotic relationships. We just need to ensure that it is truly a symbiotic relationship and not one that solely profits the human. I’m very interested in your thoughts on this.
I’m afraid I also disagree with #4 but I certainly respect your right to hold your views and I wouldn’t begin to attack them as you’re obviously better informed on me on that subject!
Here’s the link: http://www.farmaround.co.uk/
Hi Carol,
I have a feeling you’re genuinely unaware of what symbiosis is and that there are different types of symbiotic relationships. I’ve studied both zoology and ecology on the collegiate level for some time now and I want to just clarify something I think you have confused. As a general matter, symbiosis is defined by an interaction between two biologically different species. Mutualism, which is what I think you’re getting at, is a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the interaction. There are other forms of symbiosis, but in reference to what you’re saying, only parasitism is relevant. Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship in which one party benefits while the other is harmed. Think of leeches, ticks, fleas and any number of internal parasites.
If you want to bring biology and ecology into play, then please understand that our relationship with animals is nothing more than parasitism. The only party who benefits from nonhuman animal use is humans. Even when an animal is not being harmed “horrifically” or in an apparently cruel way, she is still being harmed.
The notion that we can use animals and not harm them (ie: “humane” use) is false. Animals, like humans, have an inherent right not to be treated as “things”. Moreso, when it’s done unnecessarily like in the use for food, clothing, and entertainment. Even if you treat an animal kindly, but use that animal as a resource, say for meat, dairy, eggs, or honey, you are operating under the belief that using a sentient being, when it is unnecessary to do so, is morally justifiable. *Unnecessary* use cannot be morally justified. The only reason we consume animals is because it brings us pleasure, not because it is necessary.
Just because animals are not being killed (like in the organization you mentioned) doesn’t mean that they are not being harmed. That “slaughter free milk” denies the cow of the right to her own body and the right to exist without being a resource for us. Not only that, it denies her calf of necessary, antibody and vitamin-rich food.
If you believe it is wrong to cause unnecessary harm to animals, then no amount of use, however little or kind, is morally justifiable because it is *all* unnecessary. If you need to understand why that is, then please look at all the information out there that states just how detrimental consuming animal products is for human health.
It is impossible for humans and animals to form symbiotic relationships because animals are legally, property. They are considered our objects. What this status invariably means is that their desires will always be trumped by ours. We are their owners. As a matter of biological, ecological, and legal fact, it is impossible for them to benefit from our use of them. We use them which *always* leads to harming them, we destroy the planet they live in constantly, and we legally have the upper hand. Your idealistic “give and take” vision for our co-existence and reciprocal use is, unfortunately, just an unattainable vision.
Using animals, even in supposedly “humane” ways, is not a way to “go forward” as you say. In fact, what it has shown is that the more marketing is done to convince people that they can “compassionately” consume animals, the more they consume them! “Slaughter free milk” and similar products don’t make people think that they are equal to animals or that they can have an equally beneficial relationship with animals. And it certainly has not shown a decline in animal consumption — it has increased it by making people feel more comfortable about consuming animal products. This sounds a lot more like going backwards, not forwards.
Respecting animals means going vegan. Please go vegan. if you haven’t read Gary Francione’s “Introduction to Animal Rights”, I highly recommend it as it highlights, in more detail, what it means for animals to be our legal property. You can also visit http://www.veganpamphlet.com and http://www.bostonvegan.org for more info.
Melody, thank you for your thoughtful and considered response.
I am actually transitioning to a vegan diet and do agree that this is the ideal. In theory, I agree with everything you say. In fact I subscribe to Gary Francione’s blog. The thing is this: you say I am being ‘idealistic’. I agree. But so are you.
I am the only person I know who thinks being vegan is the ideal. Everybody else I know (other than through the blogoshere), even those who know the truth about how animals are treated to bring them meat, eggs and dairy, don’t care enough to stop consuming those products. They care, but not enough.
When speaking to them however, they do care enough to pay a bit more for higher welfare food. Now I understand that this is completely against the abolitionist stance. And I concur personally with that stance.
But as a pragmatist I believe that whilst aiming for abolition we have to improve the lives of these animals living in the here and now.
I agree that my using the word symbiotic was wrong. Mutualism sounds correct.
The lady who owns the organic veg box company who are introducing the slaughter free milk and eggs also rescues sheep from slaughter. In return for providing a safe living environment and veterinary attention she uses their wool to make clothes. I think this is an excellent example of a mutually beneficial relationship. She doesn’t breed them by the way. She only rescues.
Pragmatically speaking, unless we find more of these mutually beneficial relationships, these animals unfortunately will either A) continue to be used and abused with no thought whatsoever for their welfare or B) disappear completely from our landscape.
My version of utopia would be a world where animals were free to live their own lives without interference from others. In the absence of utopia, we have to consider other alternatives. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
I’ve visited the website and am deeply disappointed in the wording they have chose in reference to the “treatment” of their animals. Here’s the part:
“Promote high animal welfare standards endorsed by Compassion In World Farming.
Animals on organic farms are happier and healthier. They are themselves nourished with organic food and are raised in a free range environment which allows their natural behaviour patterns to flourish. There is also no routine use of antibiotics or growth promoting drugs in organic farming. ”
They use vague terms without definition: “Free range environment”, note that it does not say they are “free range” but in said environment. How often will these animals actually experience “free range” living? Once a week? An hour a day?
And using 100% organic food only to produce 10% of the organic gain, doesn’t that seem wasteful? We put effort into producing organic vegetation that, as stands, could feed a human with 100% of its energy still intact. But give that to a cow, and the energy burns off in its daily life. The milk we receive holds, let’s estimate less than 10% of the vegetation’s original energy. We could feed more people on a vegan diet than on an “elite organic animal products” diet.
Where do the baby calves go in their organization? And do they ever explain what they mean by “slaughter free milk”? Surely, if they are selling the calves off to scale down the price of what it costs them to use both all organics AND the produce they import (environmental decay caused by transport pollution is considered organic?), then in all likelihood those calves are going to be veal pretty soon.
How much slaughter has to occur before they can no longer call it “slaughter free”?
How much damage to our organic ecosystem can they cause before they can no longer call it “organic”?
Hi, thanks for your reply. You’re absolutely right, it is a waste of resources as we all know. My only point about this is that it sounds 100% better than most other dairy farming.
Yes, it actually appears to be ‘slaughter free’ milk. Here I quote from the site:
“Our milk will come from a closed herd of 95 Jersey cows where any cow born into this herd will live out its full healthy life. A proportion of the sale proceeds go back into a ‘pension fund’ for the cows to pay for their life-long welfare, ensuring they live out their natural lives once they cease to be productive in peace and tranquillity. If a time comes when their quality of life is seriously compromised through illness or age-related degeneration, euthanasia will be carried out on the farm.
This system will see all the animals including the cows’ male offspring having natural lifespans. Natural ‘de-population’ is being achieved through increasing lactation length so that the cow does not have to bear a calf every 12 months and by using advances in artificial insemination technology to increase the percentage of female offspring born.”
As for the free-range aspect, most UK dairy cows I believe are grazed outdoors in fields in the summer time. This is certainly true where I live in the north-east. And as this farm operates under organic principles I believe there are laws protecting this.
Again, I’m not saying let’s all consume milk now, everything is fine and dandy. I’m saying isn’t this a better choice for those consumers who will not go vegan? (*ducks from Melody*) :)
Just found your blog, and although vegetarian kept eating milk and eggs. It wasn’t until recently when I was pumping my breastmilk for my infant in the NICU that I finally made that connection between the milk I consume and the sadness I felt pumping milk while my baby was so far away.
It hit me like a ton of bricks. Like my friends who have given up cigarrettes say- 2 months clean(of dairy and eggs!)!
M,
Just my two cents if you don’t mind: as you have no intention of becoming vegan then I would urge you to stick with the organic free range products. I don’t believe that the blog said that there was no difference between organic and non-organic, simply that clever marketing sometimes confuses consumers into thinking that their products also have the same welfare standards.
Yes, there are plenty of the same ethical issues in orgranic free range milk/egg production as there are in non-organic but if a product is truly organic then the welfare standards for the animals should be higher at least. So your guilt should be less ;)
The other issue of course is the health issue for yourself and your baby. Again, I believe organic is the way to go, although that’s obviously a different issue.
Great post! It was point number 1 which pushed me over from vegetarianism to veganism, and I wish that it had occurred to me earlier, but I was also trying to convince myself that I wasn’t hurting anybody by buying organic milk, etc.
As for dairy being a feminist issue, I agree wholeheartedly. Cows used for dairy get killed sooner or later regardless of sex, but it is the females who are repeatedly artificially impregnated, milked, and have their calves taken away. So to the one or two posters who seem to be operating under the outdated assumption that evil feminists are scheming to prioritise women over men, you’re missing the point.
The point is that female animals are exploited in ways above and beyond male animals, and no, that doesn’t negate the suffering of male animals. It just means that 1) hey, this is an extra thing that is wrong about consuming animal products, 2) if you are a woman or a man with an imagination, you can imagine how disgusting it would be to have that done to you, and 3) maybe that will lead you to have more compassion for these animals, and not consume anything that is a product of their reproductive processes. There’s no need to be defensive – the author isn’t dismissing issues that men or male animals experience, she’s just trying to get you to think about another level of exploitation inherent in the dairy industry. Also, Cole’s point about power dynamics is spot-on.
the fact that dairy farms openly call the things that artificially repeatedly impregnate the cows “RAPE RACKS” is a defining moment of the feminist issue of it all… love this article!!! great job! i think the vids are the things that made the issues of veganism click most.. and gary yourofsky’s speech on youtube for sure =)
errrr where does ‘feminism’ come into this???taking higher moral ground to a whole other level! was reading along till I got to that…just bizarre!
I really enjoyed your article.
As a vegan mother, the link between dairy and cruelty against women/mothers is so blatant that I could hardly believe it when La Leche League International (mother to mother breastfeeding support) partnered with the California Milk Processor Board in order to sell “Got Breastmilk?” branded items for fundraising.
I ended up regretfully having to resign from my local chapter and from the editorship of their national parents’ magazine.
http://www.vegsource.com/jess-parsons/got-money-la-leche-league-international-milks-the-cash-cow.html
the visual representation looks great. just an fyi, you misspelled pus. keep up the great work! :)
@Carol: “slaughter free milk”? How is that possible? I am guessing that they will still sell or slaughter the calves and it is the cows that are allowed to live out their 30 years or so in a happy green pasture while they no longer produce milk? That just doesn’t make sense to me.
The fact that the casein in dairy is an unhealthy carcinogen and can be linked to cancer, diabetes, auto-immune diseases, and other degenerative diseases is not reason enough to give up the milk of another species after the baby humans are weaned. Why is it that we are the only species of animal that wants to drink another animals milk after we are weaned? A cow produces milk to raise it’s calf. Once it’s weaned it doesn’t go back. It’s not natural in any way for us to be any different. It’s a lack of knowledge and really good marketing by the dairy industry, and that’s all.
Calcium is a mineral that comes from the ground through plants. Vitamin D comes from the sun. You can supplement soy, hemp, coconut, almond, and other beverages if you choose to drink the “milks” of plants. No different than supplementing your dairy milk. Cow’s milk is for calves. Don’t steal from the babies. Any woman should understand this if they’ve ever had children of their own.
Michele, thanks for your reply. No, they are not slaughtering any animals. Please read the article for more information on this if you are interested. Click the picture. http://www.farmaround.co.uk/
Yes, I agree that dairy is probably the most unhealthy food you can eat. I am not promoting dairy products. I am promoting slaughter free dairy products over other types of dairy products for those people who will just not give dairy up. If you would like to know more about my views on this, please read my response to Melody’s post above.
I’m on your side here ;)
Thank you so much Sharon!
I shared it on Twitter!
Lilly <3
Melody,
Usually when people say, “With all due respect” it means actually they are going to tell you your views are ridiculous and yes, that’s what you basically did.
I can see we’re on different pages here but surely you can understand my argument that the world is not going to go vegan overnight. I live among people who will almost certainly never be vegan. And I am not belittling them by saying that. Maybe you live among like-minded people and that’s why you think this way, but I don’t and therefore I can state this with confidence.
By the way, I advocate for veganism every day among my family and friends. I would never encourage anybody to consume dairy. It’s just about the most unhealthy thing you can put in your body. But if they’re going to pick up that carton of milk despite my protests I want there to be some slaughter free milk there that I can direct them to. If you think this makes me a hypocrite then so be it.
Yes it is going to be slaughter free milk and if you’d read the article you would have seen that. A portion of the profits will be paid into a ‘pension fund’ to allow this to happen.
Presumably you think those rescued sheep would have been better off going to slaughter rather than where they are now? If I opened a homeless shelter but didn’t have enough money to pay somebody to maintain/clean it, would it be wrong of me to ask those using the shelter to contribute? This is how the world works.
This woman has rescued 300 sheep from slaughter but because she cannot afford to just keep them, as she is not rich, you are criticising her for finding a way to make it happen. I find that remarkably short-sighted for a so-called animal advocate. As far as I know, maybe she doesn’t profit from it at all.
And presumably it seems from your argument that you don’t want to reduce the suffering of the animals confined in factory farms because it will dilute your cause. “Sorry animals, you must continue to suffer terribly, but you see it’s for your own good in the end. The people will come around eventually.”
It seems to me that some abolitionists don’t care about the welfare of animals at all, only the freedom.
Do you approve of animal sanctuarys? Well those animals aren’t free are they?
This kind of single mindedness in my view does not serve the animals.
Carol, actually, I don’t live among like-minded people at all. And that is exactly why my beliefs are what they are. I would rather people not think that “humane” animal products are any better than one’s that aren’t labeled this way, because they aren’t. There’s no such thing as humane animal products.
Of course I don’t think those sheep would have been better off going to slaughter. Where it counts, it’s much better for the animals, if someone follows a vegetarian diet instead of an omnivorous one. Obviously. But that doesn’t mean I’ll advocate vegetarianism even if that person will never be vegan. Likewise with “humane” animal products. The moment you begin to tell someone there is a way they can be “kind” to animals by consuming them, they’ll completely forget about veganism.
And as for the woman with the sheep: she does profit from them. You said she makes clothes with their wool. Regardless of whether or not she sells it, she’s inarguably using them as resource. An unnecessary resource.
I find it short-sided for you to think that just because someone says or comes off as never becoming vegan, that they actually never will. I’ve met plenty of people who have said this and are now vegan. And those people never stopped to think about “humane” animal products because, even as omnivores, they saw that the distinction just wasn’t there.
“It seems to me that abolitionists don’t care about the welfare of animals at all, only the freedom.” Then you are largely misunderstanding abolitionism. Abolitionists care about the welfare of animals enough to *reject* promoting their continued enslavement and confinement that will inevitably lead to future generations of enslavement. “Slaughter free” or “humane” promotion has only lead to an increase in consumption of animals, and a culture that’s beginning to believe that there is a “nice” way to use and kill animals. Do you really believe there is? I doubt it.
Of course it’s much, much nicer if someone punches someone else in the face with a pillow taped to their hand than if someone punches them in the face bare fisted. But either way, someone’s still getting punched in the face. And putting a pillow on one’s fist doesn’t make it *more right* to do it. The third option is not to punch/get punched in the face. And so just like that, of course it’s better if chickens in cages have more room, or cows mothers don’t get slaughtered, no one, not even abolitionists disagree with that logic. But the third option is to advocate for neither of these ridiculous reforms and instead, advocate for the end of their unnecessary use. *Even if* it’s not going to happen tomorrow.
My values don’t change just because the world doesn’t “work” a certain way. If I’d been living in a time where women weren’t allowed basic rights, my values wouldn’t change and I wouldn’t advocate keeping women in invisible chains because “that’s just how the world works.” It’s only when people stood up to the immorality of immoral human practices against other humans, regardless of their seemingly “kind” nature, that those practices stopped. Again not to equate human and animal suffering but, the situations are similar: we don’t have indentured servitude in the western world for a reason. And if as a culture we’d advocated for such a “kinder” way to keep slaves, then logically, we’d still have them. But we didn’t advocate for that because the wrongness of it was evident, regardless of how much kinder it was than “regular” slavery. And so we don’t have indentured servants. Regardless of their non-human status, how is advocating for “humane” use of animals any different?
It’s very short sighted to believe that advocating for consuming animals in *any* way is going to lead people to think that they should stop consuming animals.
The more we agree with the corporate “big guys” that are telling everyone there’s such a thing as “slaughter free milk,” the more people will believe that consuming animals is morally justifiable. Advocating humane animal products is what the exploiters have turned to because they understand people prefer this level of comfort when it comes to animals — and now, animal advocates are jumping on board with them. It really looks like the advocates and the exploiters are becoming one, even though their initial reasons for doing it are different. I honestly, simply can’t tell what you’re saying about “slaughter free” milk apart from what the “humane” dairy exploiters are saying.
You also misunderstand abolitionism by confusing it with some sort of idealistic “freedom,” like the idea of “liberation.” I, and many abolitionists approve staunchly of there being sanctuaries for animals. Of course those animals, like our pets, aren’t actually “free” in the sense that you’re thinking. It would be dangerous and unfair to both humans and the animals if cows were allowed to roam the highways, don’t you think? But those animals aren’t being continually exploited or used as resources, for example to produce unnecessary wool for clothing or “slaughter free” milk and eggs.
If you want to help animals in the “here and now” stay vegan, promote veganism and not “humane” products even to those who you believe will never come around, volunteer your time at sanctuaries (those animals are also *here and now*), and adopt as many animals as you can. It seems to me you want to lead by example, and if you’re advocating “humane” milk, then as a vegan, I have no recourse but to consider what you’re saying and stop being vegan. If that’s not your goal, then I think you should reconsider what it is you’re actually promoting.
I guess we’re going to have to agree to disagree!
I honestly, simply can’t tell what you’re saying about “slaughter free” milk apart from what the “humane” dairy exploiters are saying.”
It’s apparent that you still haven’t read the link about the ‘slaughter free’ milk so I have copied and pasted some of it below.
“In partnership with Grove Farm which practises organic principles, our milk will come from a closed herd of 95 Jersey cows where any cow born into this herd will live out its full healthy life. A proportion of the sale proceeds go back into a ‘pension fund’ for the cows to pay for their life-long welfare, ensuring they live out their natural lives once they cease to be productive in peace and tranquillity. If a time comes when their quality of life is seriously compromised through illness or age-related degeneration, euthanasia will be carried out on the farm.
This system will see all the animals including the cows’ male offspring having natural lifespans. Natural ‘de-population’ is being achieved through increasing lactation length so that the cow does not have to bear a calf every 12 months and by using advances in artificial insemination technology to increase the percentage of female offspring born.
Grove Farm has an open farm policy whereby visitors can come to the farm and see for themselves. The Jefferson-Smith family are pioneering this most compassionate method of dairy farming.”
“It’s very short sighted to believe that advocating for consuming animals in *any* way is going to lead people to think that they should stop consuming animals.”
You use the term “advocating” an awful lot, implying that I’m advocating for the use of animals. I most assuredly am not. I always, always advocate for veganism. I truly think you are misunderstanding me here.
We obviously both want the same thing. The only difference between us is that I will petition for higher welfare conditions for farmed animals etc. whilst at the same time advocating veganism. I don’t find this hypocritical and my ethics are intact.
If slavery was still around I would be campaigning against it obviously. Would that make me blind to the conditions that they were kept under? No. Would my inherent ethical belief in the wrongness of slavery stop me from speaking up if I saw someone beating a slave? Of course not. This doesn’t mean that I am advocating ‘kind’ slavery or condoning it in any way. Maybe this analogy will help you to understand where I’m coming from.
As for the sheep, yes she is using the money from the wool to provide for the sheep!!! Farm sanctuaries are fantastic, but they need money to survive. With charities competing harder than ever for money, how is this sustainable? I imagine most farm sanctuaries charge a fee so that people can come and ‘pet’ the animals. You could say that this is exploitation. After all, some of the workers there will be paid, they aren’t all volunteers!
As I said, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on certain aspects. But rest assured, I most certainly am not nor will I ever ‘promote’ anything other than veganism. Phew, I’m exhausted :)
Well you obviously don’t want to be associated with the likes of me, but can I just say that I AGREE!!!!! I do see the horror. I’m starting to believe that you are deliberating misunderstanding me. I am not promoting dairy consumption. And no, I do not belive that there is an ‘okay’ way to enslave and use animals (or people) for our own betterment.
If you look at an earlier post by ‘M’, she is a vegetarian who admits she has no intention of becoming vegan and because she thinks this article says that there is no difference between organic and non-organic dairy when it comes to welfare (which it doesn’t actually) she is going to switch back to non-organic to save herself some money! These are the people I’m talking about.
And I am not saying that organic dairy is ‘okay’. I’m saying it’s preferable to non-organic if you’re going to damn well buy it anyway!
If you have a heart attack after years of smoking the doctor will tell you to give up smoking. If you say, “I can’t do that doctor” does he say, “Then get out of my surgery. I can’t help you”? Or does he give you those little patches to try and hope maybe you’ll quit?
I don’t believe my message is confusing at all. I encourage everyone to go vegan. For those that aren’t willing to (yet or ever), I encourage them to seriously consider the consumer choices they make.
Carol, please don’t take offense. I didn’t mean to imply that I would not “associated with the likes of” you. I just mean that it should be clear, if it isn’t already, that we’re actually not promoting the same things.
Can you blame M for choosing to save money when, the end result of “humane” dairy isn’t distinguishable from the kind of dairy that is “less” humane? Who wouldn’t do the same thing? Before my mother became vegan she was buying free range eggs, I told her, quite frankly, that she was not only being duped into spending more money, but that those animals, regardless of having more room, were still being taken advantage of. She then switched back to “regular” eggs for a short while until she understood what I was saying — the difference in severity of abuse doesn’t matter. It’s still wrong, it’s still torture. I know you agree with that. But the difference is, that I didn’t suggest to her that she could buy eggs from the local backyard farmer down the road who kept chickens as pets and sold their eggs. They may not be being tortured, but their value is being measured by what they can produce. Similarly, suggesting to M that she can eat animals in a way that is acceptable, even if she’ll never become vegan, makes it seem again like there are some animal products that are better than others. That’s not true.
What I’ve been trying to get at is that you’ve basically put her right back where she started!
I totally get your point. But can I just point out that M said that she had ‘no intention of ever going vegan’? That is why I said what I said. And while I still don’t agree that there is *no* difference in welfare I do get your point and see what you’re saying. I don’t 100% agree, but at least I understand better where you’re coming from. And for some people I’m sure your approach is absolutely the correct one. :)
Yeah, I know she said that. And so do many others, including myself, who are now vegan. But that wouldn’t give me reason enough to suggest that, even if the intention to become vegan is totally absent, that there is a way one can still consume animals ethically. That’s kind of the whole point of this blog entry. Even vegetarianism isn’t enough.
I didn’t say that there isn’t *any* difference in the welfare of two groups of animals being confined and raised differently. But you can’t assume, on behalf of the animals, that being raised “free range” and competing for resources with thousands of other animals is better than being put in a cage and competing for those seem resources with only 5 others. They both suck. And despite what we think appears to be a better situation, to the animals, it may not be any better at all. There is a difference in the kind of raising one can do for an animal, but neither is truly, really better where it counts.
I’ve got to get to work! It’s been enlightening and fun chatting with you, Carol. I mean it! Have a good day! :)
Hope you have a good day too Melody, I’ve added your blog to my feeder and look forward to trying out some of your recipes!
You seem to be quoting an awful lot of “textbook definitions” of feminism at someone who seems to have a good deal of practice and information in that field.
I also don’t think her point was “female animals feel more pain than male animals”.
Hawkes: You seem to be repeating an awful lot of what others have already said at someone who has read all the replies on the matter. Some points taken; others not — and all of this a week ago.
WOW, this post just blow my mind! I’m from Dominican Republic and now I’m living in the United States to get my masters in Computer Science [which is totally unrelated with what I want to say in this comment anyways].
Since I moved here, I became very concern about animal cruelty and meat consumption, so I decided to become a vegetarian [Been a year now :)]. I don’t buy any dairies [like eggs or cow's milk], but I do consume eggs or cow’s milk in lets say pastry or ice cream, which after reading your post makes me feel very guilty. The problem is, that I don’t know how to say NO to someone giving me some food that contains egg or milk without being rude [cause in my culture vegetarianism is very very very rare] and then I have to lecture them about why is important to be a vegetarian or vegan… Many people became angry at me, or concern about how I’m going to die from starvation [yes, this is real].
I want to become a Vegan, because I know that we human, with our level of intellect and development, can stop consuming animal products. But I find it very time consuming to go grocery shopping and check for every product’s ingredients [I don't even care about what people in my country will say about me]. So I’m asking for your help here, how can I be better at switching to veganism, how can I substitute cow’s milk and egg based ice cream or pastry and even more important how to keep doing and participating in “cook outs” with my friends [must of them vegetarians and vegetarians sympathizers] without being the “annoying one” of the group.
I will really love to read from you! And once again, thanks for this wonderful information!
Hi sathoelduende,
I totally understand where you’re coming from. I’m also Dominican (though born in the United States) and when I first went vegan, it was a little difficult to explain to my very Dominican family and friends why I wouldn’t eat the food they made me. Because of our culture and because of the very different way animals are raised in DR, it’s very hard for people to understand all the necessary reasons for becoming vegan. But, with enough patience, understanding, and with a good grasp on how to educate your family about animal rights/veganism, you can do it! Stick to your beliefs even if you think others think you are being rude. It’s better for the animals if you become and stay vegan than if you appease your family and give up on your strong, worthy beliefs!
My mother, who moved here from Santo Domingo in 1977 will be celebrating her one year vegan anniversary this October. It took a few years and several discussions with her before she came around to accepting veganism. At first she was unsure because she didn’t know what to cook for me and she didn’t want me to be unhealthy, but once she saw how healthy I was and how many things I could eat, she became vegan too! Now, she tells all her Latino friends about veganism and cooks for them and they too are starting to understand!
At first, grocery shopping can be difficult when you’re having to check all the ingredients in everything. Eventually that will get much easier as you know what things to look for on a label. That takes a few trips to the grocery store before you get the hang of it so, don’t worry if it doesn’t happen right away. The best way to ensure you’re getting something vegan is to look for products that say “vegan” on the package or better yet, eat whole raw foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and beans.
You can switch from cow’s milk to nut milks like almond or hazelnut. Or soy, hemp, coconut, or oat milk. Eggs can be substituted with tofu for entrees, and with egg-replacer, bananas, or ground flax seeds in pastries and baked goods. There are several ice cream brands out there that are very good. You can try Toffutti, So Delicious, Coconut Bliss — all are made with either soy, coconut, or cashew based “milk.” And if you’re ever in New York City, check out the all vegan ice cream shop: Lula’s Sweet Apothecary!
You can keep going to cook outs with your friends — just bring your own food! Vegan potato and pasta salads, hot dogs, and burgers are great to share with friends as well as grilled vegetables! You can also bake cookies and bring them to share! Just make sure that you are able to cook your items on the grill *first.* For added measure, you can wrap your burgers and hot dogs in foil and place them on the grill. This is always a good time to share food with your non-vegan friends and show them how good it is!
On my blog (which you can check out by clicking on my photo) I will soon be featuring vegan versions of popular Dominican dishes! So many platanos, and so much yucca! :)
As always, there are a number of resources for helping your family and friends understand your decision. Check out http://www.veganpamphlet.com and these great resources available in Spanish:
http://www.anima.org.ar/novedades/index.html
http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/media/pdf/ARAA_Pamphlet_Spanish.pdf
and all of the videos on this page are downloadable in Spanish: http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/video/
Espero que te vayas bien educando tus amigos y familia! Ser Dominicano/a y ser vegano/a es facíl! Házlo y veras que te mantienes bien y que vas viviendo asegurado en que no le estas haciendo ningun daño a los animales sin necesidad. :)
A fantastic article that i wish every meat eater the world over would read and digest (no pun intended). I recently converted from vegetarian to vegan after initially looking into animal cruelty free cosmetics and a whole world of information opened up to me. Like you i somehow never thought about animal cruelty beyond not eating meat and naively thought animal testing was restricted to ‘essential’ cure finding medicine.i also never wondered how a cow was able to produce milk year round. Now i find myself feeling guilty for all the leather and wool i owned not to mention the cosmetics. I am replacing everything with vegan alternatives as and when i can afford to but wish i had the money to do it overnight. I can’t ever believe i thought free range hens were ‘happy hens’ and it breaks my heart to think about the horrors we subject the creatures we share our planet with for our own greedy gain. Thank for this-it expresses everything i’ve been thinking since going vegan.
I cringe at the word “veg*n”. The word is vegan. I think my feelings a similar to my roommate’s who hates when people refer to themselves as “half-Jewish”. He says, “You are or you ain’t.” I feel that way about veganism.
Saying you’re sometimes vegan is like saying you’re sometimes racists. If you are sometimes racist, you are racist. If you sometimes eat non-vegan things, you are not vegan. Don’t change the word to suit your needs because this movement is not about you.
“Veg*n”, at least as far as I know, is used to include both vegans and vegetarians. The “*” replaces “etaria” or “a”.
Right on! I think there’s a lot of misrepresentation that’s going on when people chose to use “veg” or “veg*n” instead of vegetarian or vegan. Those abbreviations are confusing and they suggest that vegetarianism and veganism are similar or closely related. They’re not. Vegetarianism includes and supports animal exploitation, veganism rejects it. When people clump vegetarianism and veganism together, even like this: “vegetarian/vegan” it’s like they might as well write “vegan/meat-eater.” It’s not an “us” versus “them” mentality — it’s just a factual difference. They are entirely exclusive of one another. And it creates a stigma/fear of veganism which makes it seem like it’s an “extreme” when it’s not.
It’s no wonder so many vegans are asked if they still eat chicken or fish. It’s because there are so many “vegetarians” who do.
Thank you for this post & the infograph which sums it all up! I’m a baby vegan (7 days…woot!), after having been vegetarian as well. Nothing could separate me from my love of cheese but I finally did realize that dairy was bad for me & bad for the animals. Looking forward to sharing this with others.
Having read the debate between Carol and Melody, it’s clear to me that any differences in view point may stem from the parts of the world you both live in. I don’t know where you are Melody, but I can tell you that Carol is living in a part of the UK that is lagging way behind in terms of attitudes to animal welfare. I do some greyhound rescue, and the situation in the North East is probably the worst. The number of stray dogs is also highest, as is the pound pts rate. Education and literacy levels amongst the general population are also lowest. I do largely agree with what you’re saying Melody, but I can sympathize with Carol. She is fighting against far more odds than many of us, and sadly I do think the best that can be achieved for now in that most unprogressive part of the UK is what she is suggesting.