I was curious as to how vegetarians/vegans view people who raise their own animals in a more old-fashioned, natural way (i.e., organic) and thus eat meat that comes from an animal that has been treated humanely and had a normal, happy life. Do you feel that it is a better method of consuming meat/animal products than if it is from a factory farm? I ask this because I used to raise my own chickens (both laying hens and fryers), and I have also raised beef, and hogs. All roamed large areas of pasture and/or farmland (USDA certified organic, no less), were fed properly, and killed humanely/quickly. I felt that I had a deeper connection with where my food was coming from (I also grew all my own veggies), and had a deeper respect for the sacrifice the animal made so that I could eat. Does that make any difference to you (as in, is it morally better), or is it all one in the same?
2007-09-17 14:02:39 · 11 answers · asked by das_teufel_katze 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
The thing is, you can treat an animal humanely while you're raising it (and I certainly think that's a damn sight better than factory farming,) but slaughter is slaughter. I just think humane slaughter is an oxymoron. Humans do not need to eat meat to thrive so killing animals for food is a choice born out of convenience, cultural indoctrination and selfish taste.
2007-09-18 16:29:01 · answer #1 · answered by mockingbird 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on the vegan/vegetarian. Some will tell you murder is murder, we don't have to eat meat to survive etc... and then others like the first respondent will be against the current system or mass production which is unnecessary since we as humans don't HAVE to eat meat.
Personally I don't claim to be a vegetarian, I was for 8 yrs... and a vegan for 2 but I now occasionally eat meat - and when I do I make sure it is free range, organic, and usually from a local farm. Unfortunately, in Las Vegas that doesn't happen that often! HA!
I personally feel eating animals is natural as part of our cycle, something we don' t have to do to live or survive in our culture... but I am not going to be so presumptuous to say everyone should be a vegetarian or vegan. In some cultures and class brackets, it's just not feesable. I prefer to know the meat I do eat is humanely treated and had it's own life before I came and mowed it down though.
2007-09-17 14:49:55 · answer #2 · answered by Willalee 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, not for me.
Old fashioned and natural, small scale, for your own and immediate local use...thats better, but lets not think all organic is raised that way.
organic labels are about higher value branding, segmenting the quality end of the market and making meat-buyers feel better.
They offer little to the animal in real terms.
I don't see why its ok to kill something just because we treated it well. To me that seems all about absolution of guilt.
It seem you have respect for animals within your moral values and that is much better than most people. I bet you'd feel that way with or without the organic labels as respect is either built in, or not, i don't believe it can be driven by laws or a label.
To me it would like being asked "do you want shooting with a dirty bullet or a sterile one" ?
2007-09-18 03:02:59 · answer #3 · answered by Michael H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I call it less cruelly raised meat, as there is no way to "humanely" kill anyone. Raising animals so they have a better life before they are killed is a step in the right direction, but sadly it isn't possible to feed roughly 300 million people (less the vegetarian population) giving the animals space and treating them well. And the animal is still dead.
But it is far better than the current system of animal industry.
2007-09-17 14:33:05 · answer #4 · answered by VeggieTart -- Let's Go Caps! 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I'm vegetarian more for my health than morality (though the meat industry's practices do apall me to no end) But yes.. I think people raising their own animals, letting them have plenty of grazing place (free range), treating them well, and killing them mercifully and quickly are doing MUCH better than the meat industry, and people who support the meat industry by buying its products.
Yes, it makes a big difference, but I still wouldn't eat the meat (Because of other reasons like health.. lifestyle choice.. I AM a vegetarian.. it's part of who I am now and I can't go back).. I would have much less problem, t hough, eating eggs from a neighbor who has her own chickens, treats them well, lets them have free range of her back yard, and keeps no roosters (so eggs are unfertilized). I would eat the eggs.
2007-09-18 03:18:22 · answer #5 · answered by Shelly P. Tofu, E.M.T. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont think so, we humans evolved to such a point were we experience dominion over the animals, if they didnt want to be eaten they would of evolved and become more powerfull and less able to kill, instead they submitted to man and became what they are today becuase of us. And I think that the population of earth needs to learn respect for there fellow man before they will stop eating meat. There are far more worse crimes than meat eating in the world. Only when the human race becomes a peacfull race then we may stop eating meat. Untill then ill have the porterhouse steak welldone with diane sauce.
2016-05-17 09:16:20 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would definitely say it is better, but it is still not something I will participate in or support. I believe the captivity, exploitation, and murder of animals is wrong, whether you gave them hormones or hugs.
A large part of the vegan ethos comes from the reprehensible treatment of farm animals, so I would absolutely say that what you are doing is a step in the right direction, but there is a long way to go yet.
2007-09-18 01:59:38 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, I have a TONNE of respect for you. I truly wish more animals were in places like yours.
However for me, I would still not consume dairy/eggs/ poultry/meat etc, no matter how it was "grown." Partially because I can't digest it, and secondly cause I don't really prefer the taste, and I don't believe my body needs those products.
I understand that chickens lay unfertilized eggs and that otherwise they'd go to waste... But to me it's the concept of a chicken eating MY period and it's kind of disgusting... And I can't even imagine pumping breastmilk to feed a room full of adult and baby cows... I guess I put myself in that situation, or look at things face-to-face. Like I couldn't look at a steak on my plate and not picture that sweet, "moo" face you know? that's just how I am. I think if I were an animal I would be like a guinea pig. Cause they love veggies and couldn't possibly eat meat. It just wouldn't work, they aren't meant to do it.
But for people who do like animal products and can digest them etc, I would really wish more ppl would go through private places rather than The Industry.
2007-09-17 20:45:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Definitely better in my opinion as I'm vegetarian because of inhumane treatment of animals. No problem with ppl eating meat to live or when animals are treated well. I still wouldn't eat it though as I can't distance myself from the fact that the lovely looking food on the plate used to be alive.
Good for you, wish everyone reared meat this way.
2007-09-17 14:13:55 · answer #9 · answered by Pour quoi? 2 · 7⤊ 0⤋
it's all the same for me. i REFUSE to eat anything that has previously had a face!
but it's great that you would rather choose less-painful resolutions for your animals. if it makes YOU feel better, that's all that really matters here, right? no vegetarian/vegan will encourage (or dare i say, approve?) the consumption of what i learned it as 'rotting carcas' . we gave up meat for a reason.....i wanted to stop killing animals in a hurtful way....that would be like killing my pets almost
2007-09-18 03:23:08 · answer #10 · answered by MARIA G. 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋