Veal

A particularly cruel industry for calves

The intensive confinement and cruel treatment of calves in veal factories represent one the most abusive practices in agribusiness today.

Veal calves are a by-product of the dairy industry.

Drinking cow's milk creates the veal market because the male calves of dairy cows cannot produce milk and are not of the right stock to be raised for beef.

Males are of no use for milk production and they are not the right stock for beef production.

Soon after they are born, veal calves are taken from their mothers and locked up in stalls or crates. Veal calves are chained by their necks to prevent them from turning around during their entire lives. This prevents tough muscle development and makes their flesh tender.

Calves endure 14-17 weeks of torment in crates so small they can't even turn around, stretch their legs, or lie down comfortably. (One million calves are used for veal in the U.S. each year.)

The calves have committed no crime, yet have been sentenced to the cruelest fate imaginable.

During their brief lives, they never see the sun or touch the Earth. They never see or taste grass.

Veal calves are deprived of their mother's milk, fresh air, drinking water, exercise, adequate nutrition, and proper veterinary care.

Veal calves are fed a synthetic diet without iron or roughage, which keeps the animals anemic in order to make their flesh pale. The pale pink or white color is desired in the finished product for gourmet veal.

Veal calves are kept in total darkness except for feeding time.

Veal calves are forced to stand or lie on hard wood slats covered with excrement, without straw or other bedding.

After 16 weeks of this misery, he is dragged to the slaughterhouse, where one man blows out his brains, another strings him up by his hind leg, and a third cuts his throat until all life bleeds out. His tortured body is then sliced and served as veal.

If we saw someone treating a dog or a cat this way, we would surely be outraged and protest loudly. Are these animals any less deserving of our consideration, compassion, and respect because they are raised for food, because there are no laws to protect them, or because their number boggles the mind?

Because of such extremely unhealthy living conditions and restricted diets, calves are susceptible to pneumonia and constant diarrhea. Consequently, they must be given massive doses of antibiotics and other drugs just to keep them alive. 10-20 percent never make it.

The antibiotics given to veal calves are passed on to consumers in the meat.

Physicians warn that the routine use of antibiotics in veal and other farm products is resulting in antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. These virulent bacteria render formerly life-saving antibiotics useless in combating human disease.

Would you knowingly serve your family sulfa drugs, clenbuterol, penicillin, tetracycline, or drug resistant strains of bacteria for dinner? Of course not. Unfortunately, these and countless other substances are now commonly found in veal.

Britain has already banned the veal crate

To help stop veal calf abuses, don't buy or eat veal, and tell friends, relatives and neighbors why.

Tell restaurant managers about veal cruelties and ask them to remove veal from their menus.

Write to the media and legislators demanding an end to the veal crate.

Contact Farm Sanctuary for veal leaflets, posters, bumper stickers, and other educational materials.