Veal is what type of animal

White veal is not produced in the UK. White veal comes from calves, on the continent, which were slaughtered before eight months of age, usually between 20 and 24 weeks of age. During this time their diets consist of fortified milk and solids, with very little fibre and low in iron.

Does veal see daylight? In the UK, calves are often kept indoors but in open-sided barns. These barns are well lit by natural daylight and the open sides allow the circulation of fresh air and permit the animals to look outside.

Are calves still exported to the continent for veal? Yes, male dairy calves can legally be transported as young as 14 days old. Research has shown that calves under four weeks old struggle to adapt to the live transport process and can suffer higher levels of illness and death following transport. Is veal raised humanely? Although veal crates have been banned in the EU, many calves on the continent are still kept in barren houses with slatted floors and no straw bedding.

Not giving calves straw to lie on means they have nowhere comfortable to sleep and rest. Having no fibre in their diet can stop their digestive system from developing normally - good quality fibre such as clean barley straw is essential. Calves can be given a low iron milky diet with insufficient fibre.

Is veal still cruel? The calves must be kept in small groups, with deep straw bedding to lie on and are not allowed to be solely fed on milk. Veal calves are also prone to ulcers and other painful stomach lesions, possibly caused by large and infrequent milk feedings administered through bottles. In a heartbreaking reminder that these are lonely baby animals , research found fewer lesions in calves who were handled gently, petted, and allowed to suck on fingers—which simulates nursing from their mothers.

Meat producers often feed calves antibiotic medications to prevent disease, which runs rampant on overcrowded factory farms. While drugs can help to prevent disease, they can also cause harm. Studies found that some farmed calves experienced overdoses of doxycycline, a medication that was given to treat respiratory illness. Despite this, in researchers found the use of doxycycline in veal calves had increased. Respiratory diseases, including pneumonia, are among the most common in veal calves.

Calves can also suffer from otitis, an ear infection that often occurs alongside respiratory infections. Diarrhea is another serious concern tied to their formula diet, sometimes causing skin rashes and burns. On top of the everyday suffering endured by calves on veal farms, horrific abuse is also rampant in this industry.

Undercover investigations have revealed calves being kicked , beaten , and jumped on. Though it represents only a small percentage of meat consumption, veal is produced by a powerful global industry that runs on the abuse and exploitation of defenseless young animals.

Severely overcrowded and filthy factory farms can facilitate the spread of disease, so animals raised for food often consume antibiotics with their daily food and water rations. Veal calves are no exception. Additionally, the widespread use of antibiotics in farming exacerbates what has become a dire public health crisis by giving rise to illnesses resistant to these life-saving medications.

In other words, veal meat is not naturally white or gray, as it appears in packages on supermarket shelves. Veal meat is pale because the meat industry leaves these calves nutrient-deficient. While the consumption of veal seems low when compared to meat from other farmed animals, it comes at a high price for calves. In the US, people consumed 0. In the same year, Americans consumed Still, by , the global consumption of beef and veal is nevertheless projected to reach over million pounds.

For dairy cows, life is an endless cycle of exploitation and anguish. For male calves born into the dairy industry , the suffering is different, but brutal just the same.

Others—in fact, the majority —will be sold for veal. The remaining calves will be killed shortly after birth. Veal production exploits female cows for their reproductive systems, separates mothers from their calves, and subjects the calves to isolation, malnourishment, and extremely early deaths.

But, right now, there is no such thing as humane veal. For veal to end up on our plates, millions of mothers and baby animals have to suffer. Take action with us, for the calves and for the animals. Cows on factory farms spend most of their lives standing or lying down in filthy pens that are so crowded, it can be difficult for them to walk any distance.

They often suffer bruising and weight loss as a result of the discomfort of transportation and lack of space and comfortable bedding. The longer the distance the greater the stress; many calves become ill or die after they arrive at the rearing farms. Banned within the EU, narrow veal crates are still used in the US and many other countries. These make it impossible for calves to turn around and many are tied by the neck. In order to keep their flesh pale and tender, the calves kept in crates are fed on an unhealthy diet of milk or milk replacer, usually without any solid food.

Calves can become seriously anaemic due to the lack of iron and their rumen does not develop properly due to the lack of solid and fibrous food. Public pressure to end the use of veal crates on animal welfare grounds has resulted in some major US veal producers starting to phase out veal crates and some US states have voted to make them illegal.

Veal does not have to be a cruel meal; there are alternative production systems that provide higher welfare for veal calves. In these systems, calves are reared in small groups in straw-bedded barns.

They are provided with adequate space allowance per calf and may have access to the outdoors. They are fed a normal diet for growing calves, without restriction of iron intake and solid food. In the best systems, such as many organic systems, the calves are able to suckle from an older cow retired from the dairy herd. These systems provide greater comfort, reduced risk of injury and better opportunities for natural behaviour, social interaction and exercise. In this system, calves are reared with their mothers in the suckler herd and may be weaned before slaughter.

This system is capable of providing the highest level of welfare for calves reared for veal as they are neither separated from their mother nor transported to rearing farms.

Calves reared in suckler herds have the health and psychological benefits of suckling from their mother, a normal diet and increased opportunities for natural behaviour, social interaction and exercise.

Calves reared to Freedom Food standards are group housed in deep straw-bedded barns. They have greater space allowance and their diet must prevent anaemia and any mineral or vitamin deficiency. They receive more iron than minimum UK legal requirements and unweaned calves must have unlimited access to grass or a minimum amount of fibrous feed.

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