# What's the UnPETAfied life of a veal calf? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734 "2005-07-15T23:16:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/21 "2005-07-18T04:50:18Z")
Lisa: Do we have any food that wasn’t brutally slaughtered? Homer: Well, I think the veal died of loneliness. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/22 "2005-07-18T07:41:55Z")
Just a thought: any animal, including humans, can only recognize maltreatment if they’ve been taught what maltreatment is. The veal calf is anemic? The veal calf is confined? Even if they had a brain capable of reason they’d never know the difference because it’s what they know from the day of their birth until the day of their death. If you take a human child and put him in a cage as soon as he’s born and keep him there he will never really figure out that things are supposed to be different, the best example of that being [feral children](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_child). ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/23 "2005-07-18T15:05:21Z")
> [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > Lisa: Do we have any food that wasn’t brutally slaughtered? > Homer: Well, I think the veal died of loneliness. > > 😃 This is in my top 5 Simpson Quotes. I remember thinking I could die happy after hearing that one. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/24 "2005-07-18T15:34:52Z")
I took some veterinary continuing education onboard Celebrity Cruisline’s Infinity as she cruised to Alaska last month. My dinner companions were all veterinarians or their SOs. One night veal was on the menu. We all ordered it as a nod to PETA. After the meal was over, I explained the situation to our waiter (english was his second language). Once up to speed, he saw the humor and found ways to relate it to future dinners we had. Are veal calves “tortured”? No (IMHO). Would I trade places with one? Nope. Yummy? You bet. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/25 "2005-07-18T16:21:41Z")
Are ducks tortured to make this delicacy? I’ve never eaten foie gras, but I’d probably try it if given the opportunity. I’m sure the ducks don’t know their treatment is, what, unnatural and selfish? No. Do I know? Sure I do, and I’m uncomfortable with it. I’m uncomfortable with the way most of our food (meat) is obtained. But I eat cheeseburgers with great (heh) relish. My point is, I’m well aware of the source of my food and I don’t belittle (diminish) what other animals give up to provide it for me. I’m weak. I’ve been to a slaughterhouse, and a friend once managed an egg “farm”. And I do equate veal with foie gras, but not with endive. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/26 "2005-07-18T16:24:24Z")
How thoroughly restrained are they? If they’re held so tight they can’t shift and change positions, then it’s certainly painful on their joints - no matter how much time your dog spends in a crate, he can shift around and take the stress of is joints. If veal calves can’t do that, then there’s no disputing that it’s cruel. But I’m not sure how tightly they’re confined. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/27 "2005-07-18T16:51:43Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > How thoroughly restrained are they? If they’re held so tight they can’t shift and change positions, then it’s certainly painful on their joints - no matter how much time your dog spends in a crate, he can shift around and take the stress of is joints. If veal calves can’t do that, then there’s no disputing that it’s cruel. But I’m not sure how tightly they’re confined. Not sure how wide spread “cruel” treatment of veal calves is but here are some links to some photos of how some are treated. Naturally many of these photos are on pages that are pushing their own agenda so take with a grain of salt (or a whole salt block perhaps). NOTE: I am not a diehard animal crusader and happily eat meat but I do disagree strongly with inhumane treatment of animals even if the animals are meant to be a food source for humans. Admittedly that puts things such as this in a gray area for me but there it is FWIW. **WARNING!** – The following photos are not pleasant to look at (some worse than others to be sure). [http://www.ohiou.edu/~seta/vethic.html](http://www.ohiou.edu/~seta/vethic.html) [http://www.britishmeat.com/veal.html](http://www.britishmeat.com/veal.html) [http://www.hfa.org/photo/veal\_v2.jpg](http://www.hfa.org/photo/veal_v2.jpg) [http://massachusettsanimalrights.com/news/images/crated%20veal%20(dairy)%20calf.jpg](http://massachusettsanimalrights.com/news/images/crated%20veal%20(dairy)%20calf.jpg) [http://www.factoryfarming.com/gallery/veal4.htm](http://www.factoryfarming.com/gallery/veal4.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/28 "2005-07-18T17:06:51Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Are ducks tortured to make this delicacy? I’ve never eaten foie gras, but I’d probably try it if given the opportunity. > I’m sure the ducks don’t know their treatment is, what, unnatural and selfish? It would truly be wasteful if they were killing ducks for Foie Gras, since it is traditionally made from goose liver and not duck liver. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/29 "2005-07-18T17:31:51Z")
😃 > [@adam yax](#): > > It would truly be wasteful if they were killing ducks for Foie Gras, since it is traditionally made from goose liver and not duck liver. Mostly, I guess, but [look here](http://www.markys.com/rougie.htm). I _love_ being right! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/30 "2005-07-18T19:05:28Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Or does a calf try to eat grass before it’s weaned? Yes, it does. Weaning calves (like weaning humans) doesn’t happen overnight. They don’t go from 100% mama’s milk on Monday to 100% grazing on Tuesday. Even calves eating almost entirely grass will go running to their mother to nurse after something traumatic happens (like a visit from the vet or being chased by a coyote). By that time, it’s a comfort thing rather than dietary. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/31 "2005-07-18T19:30:09Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > 😃 > > Mostly, I guess, but [look here](http://www.markys.com/rougie.htm). > I _love_ being right! I had no idea. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734/32 "2005-07-18T19:36:29Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > I had no idea. Did you read the “history and production methods of foie gras.” link near the top of the page? Slanted, of course, but interesting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-unpetafied-life-of-a-veal-calf/312734.md?page=1)