Ok, so what if I get my dairy/eggs from a local farm that I know is ethical?

Question

This is a follow up to an earlier ? I asked. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkchsZKJaWdnmq6VR.S6Ca_ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080618183527AAjz35t

Peta and Meat.org predicate their arguments against eating eggs and dairy on the fact that most of the farms producing these do not follow ethical practices.

I am lucky enough to be within easy driving distance of a dairy farm where I am allowed anytime to "visit" the cows and chickens who provide the eggs and milk products they sell in their farm shop. They pride themselves on the ethical treatment of their animals and I frankly haven't seen any evidence to the contrary.

Does THAT make eating dairy and eggs ok?

Answer 1

I guess it comes down to personal choice.

For me, I would never consider consuming dairy and eggs, even if I could buy it locally from a non-factory farm. From a nutritional standpointe, I simply don't believe that cow's milk is meant for human consumption. I also don't think that eggs are healthy. But that's just me.

As others have said, you might want to consider what happens to these well-treated animals after they are no longer needed to meet the farmer's demands. Cows eat a LOT. It would be extremely expensive for the farmer to keep the cow after it's no longer producing milk. She probably is sent to slaughter once she's past producing age/ability. The farmer has to make money somehow. Also, if you don't see any bulls, you can just about bet they were sold to someone else to be used for veal; that has to be the cruelest and most inhumane thing that can happen to a calf!

So, indirectly, your money is supporting the farmer to make these things happen. If you are okay with the way things are on the front end, then I guess it would make dairy and egg consumption okay.

But it's up to you. Do what makes you comfortable...remember that no one can determine that for you.

Cheers!

Answer 2

It depends on what you think is ethical. In my opinion, animals should be free to roam the world, if they choose. Don't you appreciate that freedom? Even on a free range farm, they are kept against their will on a small piece of land. I would not want such an existence.

Answer 3

Contrary to popular belief/ignorance, after they're unable to produce milk/eggs, that the farmer isn't gonna keep those cows and chickens in his pasture like pets to let them live-out the remainder of their natural lives.

They'll be used for their secretions until then can produce no more, and then they'll be sold for slaughter - a final sacrifice for the farmer's bottom-line.

These animals are money-making property to these people, and nothing else.

(This is "their purpose in life?"  Bullsh*t.  Producing for humans isn't any more an animal's purpose than is an African American's purpose to be a slave, or a Jew's purpose to be a scapegoat.)  

No matter how "happy" a farmer claims those animals are, they're slaves and they're exploited for humans to eat eggs and dairy.  Then they'll be sold as "happy meat."

Doesn't seem ethical to me.

Answer 4

Sweetie, it's your definition of ethics that's important not PETA's. I get my dairy and eggs from a local farm too. Some people like the folks at PETA would like to give animals more rights then people.

When a cow stops producing milk she goes into heat, and want's to get preg. again. Please don't confuse animal reproduction with human reproduction. If she was in the wild she would be looking for a bull.

Answer 5

If you feel comfortable about it, then don't let PeTA tell you whether or not it's OK.  BUT, ask what happens to hens who stop laying or cows that are worn out from the pregnancy/lactation cycle.  Also ask them what happens to male chicks and male calves.  Even if the laying hens and dairy cows themselves are treated better than the industry standard, the answer to most of those questions will be that they are killed.

And yes, cows in a conventional dairy operation calf every 11 months or so (note that they gestate for the same 9 months as a human woman, so this is near constant pregnancy.)  It's why they don't live 20 years like they should.  Left to her own devices, a cow would calf every 2-3 years.

Answer 6

That's up for you to decide. I don't believe the slaughter of animals (provided they aren't abused) is wrong. Unless you're buying eggs that have been exposed to a rooster, they won't become chicks, the dairy cow you buy the milk from will be slaughtered eventually but will be treated well most likely during her life because a healthy cow produces better milk.

Human mothers who nurse, are able to produce milk longer because human babies naturally (not counting formula, short term nursing etc....) nurse longer than calves. This is true for animal non human mammal. The milk supply diminishes so they have to be impregnated again. It's artificial insemination for the most part.....

Answer 7

No kind of eggs are cruelty-free.  The male chicks are still killed at the chickery and the chickens are still killed when their egg production slows.

It's the same with the cows.  The male calves are used for veal and the cows are still slaughtered when their milk production slows.

It doesn't matter how ethically they treat the animals.  They will still be slaughtered and you will still be supporting cruelty.  If you are going to purchase and consume cows milk you might as well buy some veal to make for dinner.  It's the same with the eggs.  Those egg producing chickens are going to end up on someone's plate, so it may as well be yours.

We don't need to consume eggs and milk.  There are many alternatives.  It's just a matter of excepting the fact that no matter how many excuses someone makes that buying those items supports cruelty.

The egg and milk industry go hand and hand with the meat industry.  If you support one you support the other.  Free range or not they are all cruel.

Answer 8

just do what you want cause there are some people on here that think we should just live off of soy alone iyou want to consume dairy and eggs thats your business cause some people dont think even a local hopefully humane as possible farm is good enough but if you wanna eat it then do so

Answer 9

Hey there, I am a farmer and I am not sure what you mean about ethical.  I know everyone has there own views and opinions so i respect that, no problem.  I think that in you situation, if you can visit the farm, and you think yes, the animals are treated well and are not mis treated or abused, then sure, support your local farmer and buy from him, because local farmers believe it or not are the farms which put food in your local grocery store.  I know there are farms out there where animals are mistreated, but i can guarentee you they are few and far between.  You have to remember a lot of those farmers love those old cows and stuff.  We know everyone by name around here, and it is true once they are no longer in the production phase of their life, they often are put out for slaughter, but you need to remember that is there purpose in life.  I think if you enjoy dairy and eggs, and you trust the farmer and see it is in good standing with it's animals, then go ahead and enjoy the products.  Remember if you ate today, no matter what or from where, thank a farmer, there is nothing a human consumes food wise that doesnt come from a farm somewhere

FARMERS FEED CITIES.   enjoy!

Answer 10

It's better that your buying from a local producer. Smaller scale farms usually treat their animals better, and they have more space generally due to lower herd or flock stocking densities. The best way to ensure that your product is ethical, is to ask the owner if you can visit the farm one day. If it looks like the animals are well cared for and you feel ok with the conditions and have no ethical problem with milk or eggs then that's probably the best way to be sure.

As for the reason why cow have to be repeatedly calved, it's because like humans, cows only lactate or produce milk after a recent birth. Milk is nourishment for their babies, for the calves. Milk is made by the mother to feed it's young. It's the same with all mammals.

Free range hens also eventually end up at slaughter. They don't live happily ever after and die of old age. When their production drops beyond a certain threshold they too will end up at a slaughterhouse. The same can be said for spent dairy cattle.

Personally, I'm opposed to dairy and egg consumption, even free range. But if you feel fine with it, then free range local produce is probably the most humane option, especially compared with factory farming conditions. They're ok if you feel it's ok. No one can tell you what to eat or what not to eat. All I hope to do is provide some information and leave it up to you to make your choice. It's your descision.

Answer 11

This is a personal morality decision.

BUT Local is better for dozen of reasons on all our foods.

I have a friend with a small farm & she treats her creatures like they are valued members of her family. I have in the past eatten eggs from her chickens.

Answer 12

Well, I know a former "free range" / organic egg farmer. She said that each hen's egg production declines dramatically at 15 months. It wouldn't be economically feasible to allow animals to "retire"; it would cost too much to feed and care for the animals until their natural deaths. So all commercially-raised egg-laying hens (including those on free range and organic farms) are slaughtered when their production rates decline. On free range hatcheries, the male chicks are thrown into high-speed grinders while still conscious or are suffocated in plastic bags.

With dairy, the problem is that cows (like all other mammals) need to give birth in order to produce milk. That is why dairy cows are repeatedly impregnated. Male calves are useless to small farms because they don't produce any milk. So whenever a male calf is born to a dairy cow, that calf is turned into veal. Also, dairy cows are still slaughtered when they stop producing milk.

Dairy/eggs from local farms are less cruel, but there's still a lot of suffering and deaths involved.

To answer your other question: "The cows are also artificially re-impregnated while they are still lactating from their previous birthing, so their bodies are still producing milk during seven months of their nine-month pregnancy." http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/fact...

More info:

http://www.cok.net/lit/freerange.php

http://www.goveg.com/organic.asp