Who decided that cows and chickens are ok to eat but?

Question

why are cows and chickens ok to eat in America but not dogs or squirrals or beavers ?? etc.

Answer 1

That's only in THIS country. In other places, around the world, they DO eat beavers and dogs, etc.

In Mexico, they eat dogs all the time.
In China, they eat dogs, cats and monkeys. They'll eat ANYTHING!

In Louisiana, squirrel is a common entree at any typical Cajun household.

I think religion has played a HUGE role in our society as to what is acceptable for eating.

The Jewish faith cannot eat any part coming from a pig.
No pork of any kind.

Answer 2

Actually Squirels and pidgeons were common parts of American diets until recently. The only reason squirels have passed out of the American diet is that they produce such little meat per animal, the taste of Squirel is not exactly great and they are not domesticated. Pidgeons apparently don't taste as good as chickens are more expensive to raise and produce less meat.

I am surprised deer havn't been domesticated. There are attempts right not to domesticate Buffolo. If this succeeded then Buffolos would quickly be beyond the danger of extinction.

As for dogs, they are commonly eaten in Asia. In Europe and America they are considered pets. Too much sentimental attachment. I'd be willing to bet they do not taste as good either. Nor are they economically a good source of meat. With the wide open plains that you see in America and Canada and in South America you can raise huge herds of cattle for very low costs. Dogs require far too much food per lb of meat to be a good source of meat in the West. In Asia where space is more of an issue and where wild dogs are easily hunted, then you have more of a reason. Asians apparently do not keep dogs as pets. I would assume this to be the case. I would not eat dog myself because I love dogs. I could raise a cow and happily eat it because a cow has the IQ of a mushroom. It's as affectionate as one as well half the time. Dogs can be as smart as people on the far low end of the IQ scale.

I suspect that intelligence is as big a reason as Trichnosis as to why many cultures have banned eating pigs. It is also a major reason why in the West we do not eat Dolphin.

What is more curious is how some animals get to be on the menu than why some are not. Snails in France for example. Except for snails insects seem to be grotesque to the French. Why did they suddenly start eating snails? Lobster which is essentially a big bug is on many culture's menus but grasshopper? Nope. Crawfish are a big thing in the Southern US. In fact eating them usually entails ripping the head off a crawfish boiled alive. Crawfish look like big bugs with claws. Probably taste like a grasshopper. I've never eaten a grasshopper and ate crawfish once just to try them.

So in culture, short, intelligence, attachment, cost of raising the animals, ability to domesticate and taste are the reasons why we eat what animals we do and avoid others.

Answer 3

The Sioux considered puppy stew quite good. Beaver tail was a delicacy to 19th century Mountain Men. And finally Squirrel. Squirrel is gooood. Lots of people (right here in America) still eat squirrel. Breaded and pan fried with some gravy and fresh biscuits, I testify, it's hard to beat. TRUTH, NO BS!

Answer 4

People don't like to eat things that they love (as in dogs and cats), or things that are cute. Also it would probably take a lot of work to make squirrel farms. It is easy to have cows, chickens and pigs in factories and fenced in. That's my best educated guess.

Answer 5

What do cows do? Eat. Poop. Moo. Walk around. Make baby cows. Then die.

What do chickens do? Cluck. Eat. Wake you up in the morning. Lay eggs. Run in circles. Then die.

These animals, I believe, are among the stupidest, and the most pointless. So we made then a reason to live: For us to eat them.

Answer 6

Chickens - Small. Easy to Murder. Digestable. Easily Available.
Cows - Docile. Easy to Murder, Easily Available.

Similar argumens apply to Pigs, and Turkeys etc.

Dogs, Squirrels - Difficult to murder or catch.

Societal Influences:
In India, Cows are not considered something one can eat. They are considere Holy.
In Middle East, Pigs may not be eaten. They are considered evil.

Answer 7

In the book of Leviticus Chapter 11, you will find the list of things that God gave to the Israelites which was good to eat and which was not.
So the answer is that God decided.

Answer 8

Because cats and dogs are domestic animals and are considered human's animal friends. While cows and chickens are farm animals - the are pretty stupid too compared to domestic ones. So it comes down to, would you eat your friend???

Answer 9

Who says that we don't eat dogs. And squirrels? Hmmmm, delicious. But serioiusly, there are every country has different preferences. It's just that we keep dogs, cats as pets and find them cute

Answer 10

squirrels are eaten here....and my beaver gets ate now and then....but never heard of dogs getting eatin here...