oh my GOD!!!!!!!!!!

Today I drove by the innocent little open-air dairy farm in the rural area of where I live. I saw these little things that looked like plastic doghouses and strained to see what was inside. All of a sudden, out wobbled a calf, so skinny its ribs showed. It was chained by the neck with a thick, rusty metal chain that gave it less than a 3-foot range of motion outside its plastic hut. And there were rows upon rows!

I later learned that they were veal calves. Born because the female cow had to be impregnated to give milk so the people could make money, thay were forced to lie around all day. The person I asked said they had to be anemic so their flesh would be "nice and soft" when served.

I have entered a total boycott of any products from this place (even vegan ones).

IDIOTS!!!!

Yes people don't realize what VEAL is.  It really is sick.  

yes, if you eat veal that's what you're supporting peope. go veg, YAY!

Yes, its a horrible thing. I'm sorry you had to see that, but I'm glad you did because now you know first hand the horrors that animals are put through.

I don't know how any person can consciously eat veal (or any animal for that matter)- it truly astounds me.

I have heard that organic dairy is nice because the calf's get to stay with their mothers until the proper time, and that the mothers are not over-hormoned, they aren't forced to produce milk continuously and that they have freedom to roam. BUT when I asked what happens to the male calf's when they reach a certain age the answer was basically that they are sent off to the factory farms. I'm not sure about the truth behind this. It was another veg who told me. I would love to find out how much of that is accurate.

Just hearing about these little helpless animals makes me that much more determined to go vegan.

Oh god, that's horrible. I'm so sorry you had to see that in person, and even more sorry for that poor, helpless, innocent animal. Crap like this makes me want to cry.

aww, this is so sad. =(

OK so I know I shouldn't have done this, but i went back today just to sit on the fence (which no one had a problem with) and look at the calves. Their eyes were so sad, like they knew what was going to happen to them. Also their mothers were in the main pen just a few hundred feet away, but they will never see each other again just because those at the "top of the food chain" want their veal parmigiana!!!

My friends ordered pizza yesterday but I took one look at the cheese and nearly puked (go vegans!!!)

I'm not one to try and foist my opinion of vegetarianism on others. But it astounds me how many omnis will say, "But they don't treat animals badly anymore! It's not like it used to be. That was a long time ago."

Ya, right. :(

After reading "The Mad Cowboy" by Howard Lyman, I went vegan for five years. (Howard is the guy who appeared on Oprah some years ago and told what's REALLY in the beef...and chicken...and veal...you get the picture. They were sued by the cattleman's industry, but lost because everything he said was TRUE.) Anyway, I totally know what you mean about mistreating the animals. After five years, I now eat free-range chicken, eggs, and seafood but feel so guilty I will probably go veg again soon -- for good. Maybe not vegan, but vegetarian.

marconi,

just a word about what you saw... that farmer and those huts are *typical* for dairy farms and veal raising.  that wasn't just one farmer - it's the industry standard.  (i'm from wisconsin - moo.)

I'm totally a carnivore and LOVE a big ol' steak, but even I can't stand the thought of starving a poor baby calf and keeping it from moving too much (thus making it tough) just so it can be made into veal...yech!!

I have seen those dog house looking things, they look like large dog houses, rows and rows of them right?  I drove by a field with those and I never knew what that was.  By the way, where I saw it wasn't in Wisconsin, I can't remember where, perhaps Indiana?  But I had no idea!  And I love Chef Boy R De Ravioli and it has viel in it!  Okay, I have reason #2 to cut Chef Boy R De from my diet now.  (#1 is it is fattening and I am dieting)

That is really sad :( I'm sad now.