Veal - right or wrong?

11 February 2008, by Heavens Paradox

For most people the first thing associated with veal is animal cruelty. However, is that really still the case?

I don’t deny that the welfare of veal calves a decade ago was terrible, and the animal rights protesters did a fantastic job of getting this recognised and veal has virtually left the UK market now due to the public reaction. This does mean though that diary farmers have no outlet for the male calves and they get shot at birth. This gives them no life at all. However, with a sensible veal market there would be income for the farmers and a good, if short, life for the calves.

Pink veal, as it becomes when the calves are allowed a natural life, is still a luxury food item and doesn’t involve the suffering that is involved in producing white veal. Thankfully the market is picking up again now, with many farms, like Bocaddon Farm, selling over the internet to widen the range of their goods. If British produced pink veal became accepted then it would prevent the needless slaughter of so many dairy calves.

Categories: Animals, Food & Drink