See other Resistance Articles
Title: Researcher: Vegetarian Diet Kills Animals Too
Source:
abc
URL Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Story?id=97836&page=1
Published: Sep 12, 2008
Author: Lee Dye
Post Date: 2008-09-12 10:41:26 by Old Friend
Keywords: None
Views: 314
Comments: 31
Steven Davis says he didn't set out to start a fight, but found one when he began attacking one of the most sacred beliefs of the vegetarian community. One of the reasons most commonly cited by vegetarians for giving up meat is the conviction that other animals have a right to life as well as humans. But when Davis began setting up a course on animal ethics for the animal science department at Oregon State University four years ago, he reached a rather surprising conclusion. Nobody's hands are free from the blood of other animals, not even vegetarians, he concluded. Millions of animals are killed every year, Davis says, to prepare land for growing crops, "like corn, soybean, wheat and barley, the staples of a vegan diet." Smaller Victims The animals in this case are mice and moles and rabbits and other creatures that are run over by tractors, or lose their habitat to make way for farming, so they are not as "visible" as cattle, he says. And that, Davis says, gives rise to a fundamental question: "What is it that makes it OK to kill animals of the field so that we can eat [vegetables or fruits] but not pigs or chickens or cows?" Any disruption of the land, whether it be to farm or to build subdivisions, reduces the amount of land left for other animals, resulting in the deaths of many. And Davis, a professor of animal science at Oregon State who grew up on a farm, says as a child he saw animals killed by the routine operation of farm machinery, so there's no way to have a bloodless farm. "If they say they don't want to kill an animal so they can eat, I think their conclusion is misguided because they are killing animals so that they can eat that vegetarian diet," Davis says. "Those animals happen to be a little bit invisible. They are not as obvious to the man on the street as killing a steer in the slaughterhouse. But nonetheless, it's still going on." Ever since he revealed his conclusions, Davis' e-mail box has been jammed with responses, much of it from vegetarians, and not all of it friendly. Most of it, though, has been "quite decent," he says, because vegetarians tend to be well-educated, sensitive and thoughtful folks. One-Time Kill vs. Continuous Slaughter "This is something we've been aware of for a long time," admits Jack Norris, president of Vegan Outreach in Davis, Calif., an organization that is dedicated to spreading the gospel of vegetarianism. (Norris is a vegan, by the way, which is even more restrictive then vegetarianism in that it rejects all animal products, including milk and other dairy products.) It's obvious that some animals die when their land is taken away for farming, Norris says, "but you take it away only once." It doesn't lead to the continuous slaughter of animals for human consumption, he contends, because once the land is turned into a farm, there aren't that many animals around to kill. Davis admits he doesn't really know how many animals are lost each year to agriculture, but he suspects it runs in the millions. Not many farmers do a before-and-after survey, so the best data are really just estimates. But it's clear that many are killed to put meat and dairy products on our tables, and Norris and others are just as concerned over the suffering of those animals prior to slaughter as they are over the deaths themselves. Citing numerous studies by federal agencies, as well as news organizations, Norris says in most cases it's tough being a farm animal. That's especially true for pigs and chickens. Female breeding pigs are restricted to pens so small they can't even turn around, he says. Five to 10 chickens often are housed in cages "about the size of your typical microwave oven," he says. And federal government statistics reveal that cows have been fed so much growth hormone that they boosted their milk production from an average 2.3 tons of milk per year for each cow in 1940 to 8.4 tons by 1997. Norris says that has led to all kinds of diseases and sicknesses among cows. Lay Off Chickens and Pigs? Davis and Norris agree on one point. No system is perfect, and what's needed here is far more dialogue among growers, consumers and vegetarians. Davis believes the death toll among all animals could be reduced if ranchers concentrated on raising cattle instead of pigs and chickens and let those cattle revert to foraging in open fields that could be shared with other animals. Citing U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, Davis says of the 8.4 billion animals killed each year for food in the United States, 8 billion are poultry and only 41 million are cows, calves, sheep and lambs. So he figures you could double the number of cattle killed each year, and lay off the chickens, and consequently save about 7.5 billion animals. But just letting cattle roam freely doesn't solve the problem either, Norris says, because other animals like coyotes and wolves would still likely be killed (just as they are today) to protect the cattle. And he still can't stand the thought of all those hamburgers. It's not a perfect world, Davis counters, but perhaps with a lot more thought and cooperation, a better alternative might be found. But unless someone comes up with a brilliant idea, whether you eat meat or just fruit and vegetables, you're going to have to share somewhat in the bloodletting. It might do more good, of course, if all of us just ate a little less of everything. Lee Dye’s column appears weekly on ABCNEWS.com. A former science writer for the Los Angeles Times, he now lives in Juneau, Alaska.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Nimpo (#0)
Do you live in a house? Because if you do you took some land from an animal that used to live on that land. Probably killed some rodents and rabbits. Why are you for taking land from nice little animals like bugs bunny and daffy duck? Why do you make them homeless. Don't you care about bambi and tweetie having a home?
PETA is not going to like this. Me, I love animals. They taste Grrreaaaaaaaaat!
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
I guess breast feeding of infants is out as well?
Me, I love animals. They taste Grrreaaaaaaaaat! I'm thinking of starting my own chapter of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals). We'll have wild game cook-outs each weekend, and domesticated animal cook-outs on weekdays.
Me, I love animals. They taste Grrreaaaaaaaaat! I'm thinking of starting my own chapter of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals). We'll have wild game cook-outs each weekend, and domesticated animal cook-outs on weekdays. I love Elk Sausage and Chicken Embryos for breakfast. Yum! Brings back some good childhood memories. I think I was about 8 when I learned that "Poached Deer" didn't mean boiled.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
I prefer wild boar bacon if I get to choose. Of course a nice tender Bambi backstrap does quite nicely as well.
I never had wild boar bacon. Sounds good. If you get a kill UPS me some.
I prefer wild boar bacon if I get to choose. Of course a nice tender Bambi backstrap does quite nicely as well. Not much in the way of wild pigs around here, but there is a healthy Elk Population. A very tasty one too. My mom was always fond of her "Montana Stewed Stew" - Venison Stew made with Beer instead of water. Although you could always see the pained expression on my Dad's face when all that perfectly good beer got poured into the stew pot. :-)
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
Holocaust in your salad....
IMO, without a doubt, wild boar is the best wild meat there is. I've only harvested two wild boars in the last 5 years, so I tend to hoard the meat. I ALWAYS have a surplus of venison though, I've still got over 100 lbs in the freezer from last year. I may take a shoulder out this afternoon and put on the smoker for tomorrow night.
I've only had elk a time or two in my life. I enjoyed it.
The only problem, not to me but others, is the distinctive strong flavor of elk. A lot of people like to cut Elk Burger with Hamburger - which makes a mighty tasty burger. Smoked Ringed Neck Pheasant is a nice treat too, but not for breakfast. Cold Smoked Pheasant with Capers and a nice salad is delightful summer treat during hot weather.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
We don't have pheasant around here. Bobwhite quail are quite tasty though. BTW, I plan on turning my garden under this weekend. Had a great harvest and a good market season. All that's left is the last of the late tomatoes and a few rows of personal sweet corn.
What part of the country you in hunter. My dad used to duck hunt too. I only went when I was very young.
I hope you are going to take the worms out of the dirt first. You wouldn't want to cut them up. Might piss off someone from PETA.
I'm in North Alabama.
Birds gotta eat too, unless PETA thinks they should also be vegetarians.
My dad was in the Army. I lived in Huntsville Alabama for about a year. I loved it there. Lots of woods and lakes. We went camping practically every weekend in the summer. Good memories.
I'm right across the river in Morgan County. We can hear the rockets being tested on Redstone Arsenal/MSFC if the weather is right.
This is a Boston story. Met this woman who had a pet terrier, poor fuck, he was on a veggie diet, broccoli and some similar dogfood. Doggie had the runs, didn't bark, play, sickly all the time. I walk in with beef ribs and after a few visits the pup loved me and the ribs even more I bet - became frisky, barked, played - like a dog. She couldn't believe the transformation. She had been assured of the dog vegan evangelist that the dog would be fine. Right.
I can understand that. I behave the same way for ribs.....
That is where I lived. On the Arsenal as we called it. Used to fish on the base with my friends. My dad and his buddies would ski on the Tennessee River which ran throught the Arsenal. They wouldn't let me ski on the river. But I did get to ski on some lake we used to go to regularly. About 30 to 45 min away. I don't recall the name of it.
Never had elk yet but antelope...there's not a better tasting meat.
I have had neither. But coming home from Yellowstone a couple of years ago. I noticed a lot of cattle. There was also elk and antelope mixed in. I wondered if they were wild or if the ranchers raise them too. If they are wild that is a bunch of bonus meat.
There's an Afghani concoction I would love to try. Heard it from someone who used to travel there in the 1960's and partook of this in the gardens on the hills around Kabul, long gone now. They take a ewe coming to term, and either take the almost delivered lamb out or cook it inside the ewe on an open fire or in a tandoor type oven. Guy says it was some of the tastiest, tenderest lamb he's ever had.
There are many lakes, Alabama has more surface area of water than Wisconsin (land of lakes). Some of the possible lakes you visited would have been Smith Lake (Cullman Co), Lake Guntersville (Marshall Co), Weiss Lake (Cherokee Co),Wilson Lake(Morgan Co) there are many other smaller ones. I spent a lot of my childhood on the water.
Thanks for the list. I'll talk to my dad later today maybe he remembers or will be triggered by the lakes you mentioned.
I must not get around much. I have never eaten lamb either.
www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=grill
Nice link.
ping
http://s5.gladiatus.us/game/c.php?uid=77290
#2. To: Old Friend (#0)
"If they say they don't want to kill an animal so they can eat, I think their conclusion is misguided because they are killing animals so that they can eat that vegetarian diet," Davis says. "Those animals happen to be a little bit invisible. They are not as obvious to the man on the street as killing a steer in the slaughterhouse. But nonetheless, it's still going on."
#3. To: Old Friend (#0)
(Norris is a vegan, by the way, which is even more restrictive then vegetarianism in that it rejects all animal products, including milk and other dairy products.)
#4. To: Original_Intent (#2)
PETA is not going to like this.
#5. To: duckhunter (#4)
PETA is not going to like this.
#6. To: Original_Intent (#5)
I love Elk Sausage and Chicken Embryos for breakfast.
#7. To: duckhunter (#6)
#8. To: duckhunter (#6)
I love Elk Sausage and Chicken Embryos for breakfast.
#9. To: Old Friend (#0)
-Schweizerische Schutzenseitunt (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#10. To: Old Friend (#7)
I never had wild boar bacon. Sounds good. If you get a kill UPS me some.
#11. To: Original_Intent (#8)
Not much in the way of wild pigs around here, but there is a healthy Elk Population.
#12. To: duckhunter (#11)
I've only had elk a time or two in my life. I enjoyed it.
#13. To: Original_Intent (#12)
Cold Smoked Pheasant with Capers and a nice salad is delightful summer treat during hot weather.
#14. To: duckhunter (#10)
#15. To: duckhunter (#13)
BTW, I plan on turning my garden under this weekend.
#16. To: Old Friend (#14)
What part of the country you in hunter.
#17. To: Old Friend (#15)
I hope you are going to take the worms out of the dirt first.
#18. To: duckhunter (#16)
I'm in North Alabama
#19. To: Old Friend (#18)
I lived in Huntsville Alabama for about a year.
#20. To: duckhunter (#17)
(Edited)
they should also be vegetarians.
#21. To: swarthyguy (#20)
I walk in with beef ribs and the pup loved me - became frisky, barked, played - like a dog.
#22. To: duckhunter (#19)
Redstone Arsenal/MSFC
#23. To: Original_Intent (#12)
#24. To: angle (#23)
Never had elk yet but antelope
#25. To: Old Friend (#0)
#26. To: Old Friend (#22)
But I did get to ski on some lake we used to go to regularly. About 30 to 45 min away. I don't recall the name of it.
#27. To: duckhunter (#26)
#28. To: swarthyguy (#25)
#29. To: Old Friend (#0)
#30. To: Ncturnal (#29)
#31. To: Old Friend, *Agriculture-Environment* (#0)
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest