A tragic by-product of the dairy industry is the surplus of male calves. Since they are unable to provide milk they are either disposed of or, more commonly, raised for sixteen weeks for the "gourmet" white veal market. Veal crating is one of the cruelest factory farming practices. The calf is separated from its mother immediately after birth. Chained in a wooden crate usually not more than 24 inches wide, he is kept in darkness most of the time. He is unable to turn, exercise, stretch, groom or even lie down comfortably. He is not allowed any interaction with other calves. Since the goal is to produce the pale flabby meat preferred by some restaurants, the calf is deliberately made anemic by feeding him an iron-deficient formula. Roughage is also withheld. Since he would desperately eat any hay bedding, he has only a bare slatted wooden floor covered with his own waste to lie on. It would seem miraculous that any animal could survive in these conditions. And in fact, only a diet of drugs keeps him alive for his short life span. Even so, many die and others are so ill or feeble at sixteen weeks that they have to be dragged along the ground to their slaughter. A small proportion of veal calves are raised in a group setting with normal amenities like hay bedding and an opportunity to eat and interact. Veal crating is banned in some countries.
Pigs | Eggs | Veal | Milk | Birds | Beef
Farm Animals | Action Alerts | European Farm Laws | ARI Campaigns | Henry Spira
