Introduction
If there’s one issue in agriculture that vegans have correctly identified, it’s that we can’t get milk from bulls. At least, not milk that humans want to drink… The reality is that male calves are a bi-product of the dairy industry, causing farmers to look for alternative uses for them, and even processes that will do away with them completely. Concerned consumers have voiced opposition to all of these options, some of them justified—some of them not. So what does happen to bull calves in dairy operations, and what red flags should grocery shoppers be on the watch for?
What is Veal?
Veal is the meat of a bull calf aged six months to a year old. Bob Veal, a specialty product, is harvested at three weeks old. At this stage in development, the calf is in no way comparable to a human baby. Cattle progress at a much faster rate than people do—they can walk and communicate hours after birth. At six months old, they are already able to breed. After one year, the calf’s meat is called beef.
If there’s one issue in agriculture that vegans have correctly identified, it’s that we can’t get milk from bulls. At least, not milk that humans want to drink… The reality is that male calves are a bi-product of the dairy industry, causing farmers to look for alternative uses for them, and even processes that will do away with them completely. Concerned consumers have voiced opposition to all of these options, some of them justified—some of them not. So what does happen to bull calves in dairy operations, and what red flags should grocery shoppers be on the watch for?
What is Veal?
Veal is the meat of a bull calf aged six months to a year old. Bob Veal, a specialty product, is harvested at three weeks old. At this stage in development, the calf is in no way comparable to a human baby. Cattle progress at a much faster rate than people do—they can walk and communicate hours after birth. At six months old, they are already able to breed. After one year, the calf’s meat is called beef.
Some Fast Facts About Veal
|
Are Veal Calves Treated Humanely?
Just like any other livestock species, if calves were handled in such a way that caused chronic stress, they would not be productive.
One of the biggest consumer complaints the American Veal Association (AVA) has received is that calves are raised in confinement. As discussed in my post about why calves are weaned so early, dairy calves are raised in individual huts for many reasons, including to allow each calf’s water and feed intake to be monitored, to have a space out of the weather, and to be able to have their individual health evaluated. However, like many other segments of livestock, the producers have no choice but to meet the desires of the consumers rather than doing what’s necessarily best for the animals, even with the understanding that the consumers don’t comprehend the farmers’ intentions. For this reason, by the end of 2017, the AVA is calling for all veal producers to switch to group housing, meaning that calves will be surrounded by other calves from day one. Although this will allow them to act on their natural curious and social nature, the conditions involve less sanitation, less specialized care, and less attention to any problems that commonly arise during these crucial first weeks. Many dairies do eventually put their heifer calves into group housing, but this is usually not until they are a few months old and have gotten the advantages of individual care.
Farmers will continue to do what is best for their animals’ well-beings, not just because it will improve their yields, but because it is the right thing to do. However, consumers that are ignorant to animal welfare standards try in vain to promote humane treatment when they’re actually just making it harder for farmers to keep up positive living conditions for their livestock.
Sexing Semen
At the end of the day, despite the facts, if you’re still against the veal industry, then there’s more good news. New technology is allowing farmers to do away with bull calves. The success rate for this varies, but the idea is to decrease the amount of males born so that there will ultimately be more females in production and less bulls that would end up as veal. How? When the semen is harvested for use in artificial insemination, it can be evaluated to see if the progeny would be male or female. Then, only the female-producing sperm is kept to be implanted into cows.
In Conclusion
There’s no specific right or wrong way to handle male calves in the dairy industry. Every farm is held to the same standards of animal welfare. Still, consumers do have a right to know what’s behind their food and to make buying choices based off that information. Some simple background research into the different brands of milk, local dairies, and state or local laws that govern them can help consumers select products that were made with the methods they agree with. The most important thing, however, is to make sure that your preference in methods is based off facts and knowledge about farming obtained from credible, experienced sources.
Sources
Brown, N., Sacia, B., Janowski, J., Repinski, M. "Using Sexed Semen in Cattle Production."Using Sexed Semen in Cattle Production.
N.p., 2006. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
"FSIS." Veal from Farm to Table. USDA, 6 Aug. 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Scully, Tamara. "Raising Veal: Alternatives to Conventional Models." Farming. Grand View Media, 1 Aug. 2014. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Stoyle, Cristina. "Facts on Veal Calves." Facts on Veal Calves. HsVma, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Just like any other livestock species, if calves were handled in such a way that caused chronic stress, they would not be productive.
One of the biggest consumer complaints the American Veal Association (AVA) has received is that calves are raised in confinement. As discussed in my post about why calves are weaned so early, dairy calves are raised in individual huts for many reasons, including to allow each calf’s water and feed intake to be monitored, to have a space out of the weather, and to be able to have their individual health evaluated. However, like many other segments of livestock, the producers have no choice but to meet the desires of the consumers rather than doing what’s necessarily best for the animals, even with the understanding that the consumers don’t comprehend the farmers’ intentions. For this reason, by the end of 2017, the AVA is calling for all veal producers to switch to group housing, meaning that calves will be surrounded by other calves from day one. Although this will allow them to act on their natural curious and social nature, the conditions involve less sanitation, less specialized care, and less attention to any problems that commonly arise during these crucial first weeks. Many dairies do eventually put their heifer calves into group housing, but this is usually not until they are a few months old and have gotten the advantages of individual care.
Farmers will continue to do what is best for their animals’ well-beings, not just because it will improve their yields, but because it is the right thing to do. However, consumers that are ignorant to animal welfare standards try in vain to promote humane treatment when they’re actually just making it harder for farmers to keep up positive living conditions for their livestock.
Sexing Semen
At the end of the day, despite the facts, if you’re still against the veal industry, then there’s more good news. New technology is allowing farmers to do away with bull calves. The success rate for this varies, but the idea is to decrease the amount of males born so that there will ultimately be more females in production and less bulls that would end up as veal. How? When the semen is harvested for use in artificial insemination, it can be evaluated to see if the progeny would be male or female. Then, only the female-producing sperm is kept to be implanted into cows.
In Conclusion
There’s no specific right or wrong way to handle male calves in the dairy industry. Every farm is held to the same standards of animal welfare. Still, consumers do have a right to know what’s behind their food and to make buying choices based off that information. Some simple background research into the different brands of milk, local dairies, and state or local laws that govern them can help consumers select products that were made with the methods they agree with. The most important thing, however, is to make sure that your preference in methods is based off facts and knowledge about farming obtained from credible, experienced sources.
Sources
Brown, N., Sacia, B., Janowski, J., Repinski, M. "Using Sexed Semen in Cattle Production."Using Sexed Semen in Cattle Production.
N.p., 2006. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
"FSIS." Veal from Farm to Table. USDA, 6 Aug. 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Scully, Tamara. "Raising Veal: Alternatives to Conventional Models." Farming. Grand View Media, 1 Aug. 2014. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Stoyle, Cristina. "Facts on Veal Calves." Facts on Veal Calves. HsVma, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Share this: