A humane slaughter, define it.
- Thread starter GlassOnion
- Start date
Yes - but this thread is about animals and vegetarianism is it not?
I agree - cars are sh1t too - and will run of used veg oil - but the government can't TAX that can they
Back to the subject of cow and gas:
Cow flatulence
It has been estimated that 9 to 12% of the energy that a cow consumes is turned to methane that is released either through flatulence or burping (Radford, 2001). A huge number of factors affect methane emission, including diet, barn conditions and whether the cow is lactating, but an average cow in a barn produce 542 liters of methane a day, and 600 liters when out in a field (Adam, 2000).
These estimates were made using a trace gas (sulphur hexofluoride) that was released at known points within a barn containing 90 cattle. Levels of this trace gas and CO2 are then measured 30 metres downwind of the shed and thus they can estimate how much CO2 is released per cow per day. All this methane can add up to a significant amount. Australia's 140 million sheep and cattle are estimated to produce one seventh of the nation's total greenhouse gas emissions, whilst America's 100 million cattle also are major contributors (Major, 2000).
Source: http://rucus.ru.ac.za/~wolfman/Essays/Cow.html
I agree - cars are sh1t too - and will run of used veg oil - but the government can't TAX that can they
Back to the subject of cow and gas:
Cow flatulence
It has been estimated that 9 to 12% of the energy that a cow consumes is turned to methane that is released either through flatulence or burping (Radford, 2001). A huge number of factors affect methane emission, including diet, barn conditions and whether the cow is lactating, but an average cow in a barn produce 542 liters of methane a day, and 600 liters when out in a field (Adam, 2000).
These estimates were made using a trace gas (sulphur hexofluoride) that was released at known points within a barn containing 90 cattle. Levels of this trace gas and CO2 are then measured 30 metres downwind of the shed and thus they can estimate how much CO2 is released per cow per day. All this methane can add up to a significant amount. Australia's 140 million sheep and cattle are estimated to produce one seventh of the nation's total greenhouse gas emissions, whilst America's 100 million cattle also are major contributors (Major, 2000).
Source: http://rucus.ru.ac.za/~wolfman/Essays/Cow.html
Undoubtedly, there are more pressing issues at hand. However, if we can make a small change, why not? Cars running on vegetable oil, maybe a few less factory farms . . . What is so bad about making environmentally-friendly choices?
Free-range cattle don't do the earth much good either, but there aren't hundreds of thousands of them in a small space, farting it up.
I really don't think i could get anywhere in this debate. I CHOOSE not to support factory farms when possible, because I feel the animals are mistreated. Maybe they are kept healthy, maybe they are monitored closely, but a cow doesn't get the chance to be a cow. A pig doesn't get the chance to be a pig. We're all against puppy mills (and yes, there are sanitary, "humane" puppy mills that make sure their dogs have their basic needs for survival taken care of) how is this much different?
Free-range cattle don't do the earth much good either, but there aren't hundreds of thousands of them in a small space, farting it up.
I really don't think i could get anywhere in this debate.
I CHOOSE not to support factory farms when possible, because I feel the animals are mistreated. Maybe they are kept healthy, maybe they are monitored closely, but a cow doesn't get the chance to be a cow. A pig doesn't get the chance to be a pig. We're all against puppy mills (and yes, there are sanitary, "humane" puppy mills that make sure their dogs have their basic needs for survival taken care of) how is this much different?I do see your point. I know this will sound stupid, but I never thought of it that way.
Cows are a very inefficient (think that's the right word?) source of food, though, if you think about it. More humans could be fed on fruits, veggies etc. if less cows were factory farmed. But I guess that's not much of a point, since most people don't *want* to eat plants when they can have a steak.
But FYI, I was also addressing the issue of basic needs being neglected when I made the puppymill comparison. Dogs are miserable without companionship. Cattle are miserable if they can't move around and graze (and yes, I know this from experience . . . Our cows and calves were so sad when we locked them in pens, even when it was for their own safety) I'm sure pigs and chickens do not like being kept in such close quarters, either. It's not a life I would want, is all. Heck, I wouldn't like being kept in a small box with a dozen other humans, fed daily and had my surroundings kept clean, but never getting to act like a human. I know that's kind of anthropomorphizing these animals, but I really can't imagine them being content. I don't like the mistreatment or neglect of animals (whether it is physically or mentally) in any situation, even if it is for the sake of humans. Sorry, that's just me. I admittedly don't know a TON about the industry now, but I don't like what I've seen/heard about it - not just PETA propaganda, btw, though I've seen that too and think most of it is just playing up the extreme horrors in order to scare people out of eating meat. Much like anti-puppymill sites show the worst of the worst, in order to show people what they COULD be supporting when they buy a pup from a pet store. Again, not exactly the same thing since they are buying a living being and we are buying clean, dead, cellophane-wrapped food, but do you see the comparison?
I guess it's really useless to argue. I'm a wimp when it comes to animals and can't stand to see them neglected. I don't mean to offend anyone, I just don't like it and don't feel right about supporting it.
Cows are a very inefficient (think that's the right word?) source of food, though, if you think about it. More humans could be fed on fruits, veggies etc. if less cows were factory farmed. But I guess that's not much of a point, since most people don't *want* to eat plants when they can have a steak.
But FYI, I was also addressing the issue of basic needs being neglected when I made the puppymill comparison. Dogs are miserable without companionship. Cattle are miserable if they can't move around and graze (and yes, I know this from experience . . . Our cows and calves were so sad when we locked them in pens, even when it was for their own safety) I'm sure pigs and chickens do not like being kept in such close quarters, either. It's not a life I would want, is all. Heck, I wouldn't like being kept in a small box with a dozen other humans, fed daily and had my surroundings kept clean, but never getting to act like a human. I know that's kind of anthropomorphizing these animals, but I really can't imagine them being content. I don't like the mistreatment or neglect of animals (whether it is physically or mentally) in any situation, even if it is for the sake of humans. Sorry, that's just me. I admittedly don't know a TON about the industry now, but I don't like what I've seen/heard about it - not just PETA propaganda, btw, though I've seen that too and think most of it is just playing up the extreme horrors in order to scare people out of eating meat. Much like anti-puppymill sites show the worst of the worst, in order to show people what they COULD be supporting when they buy a pup from a pet store. Again, not exactly the same thing since they are buying a living being and we are buying clean, dead, cellophane-wrapped food, but do you see the comparison?
I guess it's really useless to argue. I'm a wimp when it comes to animals and can't stand to see them neglected. I don't mean to offend anyone, I just don't like it and don't feel right about supporting it.
I'd like to see a study done on how much an acre of grain could feed and how much an acre of cows could feed.
I would wager a good sum that cows would win, hands down. Cows produce a LOT of meat. Grains and other plants? Not so much.
You're talking at LEAST 600 pounds of meat per cow.
I highly doubt you could feed more people off of grains and the like.
Plus you have to fertilize those, and use insecticides and the like to keep them healthy. So you're still polluting.
I would wager a good sum that cows would win, hands down. Cows produce a LOT of meat. Grains and other plants? Not so much.
You're talking at LEAST 600 pounds of meat per cow.
I highly doubt you could feed more people off of grains and the like.
Plus you have to fertilize those, and use insecticides and the like to keep them healthy. So you're still polluting.
I think studies HAVE been done
And you don't HAVE to use insecticides etc. The range of organic produce here in the UK is on the increase.
I bought the best packed sandwich ever the other day. It was totally organic. And the packaging was 100% biodegradable. The see through window is made from corn starch
They are planning on producing drinks in bottles made from corn starch too - to replace plastic
You can use veg oil in cars.
There ARE HUNDREDS of alternatives. But they don't have such a huge profit margin.
It's really interesting how society works.
I have touched on some sociology over the past few weeks.. just the main theories etc etc etc - you are such a product of your society. If people make the effort to say something different, hopefully people will begin to listen ONE day..... *sigh*
And you don't HAVE to use insecticides etc. The range of organic produce here in the UK is on the increase.
I bought the best packed sandwich ever the other day. It was totally organic. And the packaging was 100% biodegradable. The see through window is made from corn starch
They are planning on producing drinks in bottles made from corn starch too - to replace plastic
You can use veg oil in cars.
There ARE HUNDREDS of alternatives. But they don't have such a huge profit margin.
It's really interesting how society works.
I have touched on some sociology over the past few weeks.. just the main theories etc etc etc - you are such a product of your society. If people make the effort to say something different, hopefully people will begin to listen ONE day..... *sigh*
Howdy and Gig 'Em Aggies!!! I've been observing this ongoing "discussion" since it's inception and allow me to interject my opinion seasoned with first-hand knowledge of the cattle industry. In addition to practicing medicine, I'm also a fifth generation rancher here in Texas with herd size averaging 10000 plus head per year and beef quality is first and foremost among our concerns; our motto is "From Pasture to Packer---Quality is #1." Making the welfare of the animal top prioity has many benefits. Better animal handling methods will decrease bruising (reduced carcass weight), downers, and losses to death while increasing the quality of the end product---ultimately, generating more revenue for the producer and packer, which in turn reduces costs for the consumer. Yes indeed "slaughtering" an animal is not a bed of roses to behold, the packers I conduct business with are quite oriented toward keeping the process as humane as possible, for failing to do so, reduces his profit margin as well.
P
What they do now is mor humane than what they did way back when. A log time ago they would hang a hog upside down, slit its throat, and let it bleed to death.
What you all are talking about now is called stunning and after that they hook them in shackles, cut their throat, and their heart pumps all the blood out.
I'm in ag, all my uncles and great uncles, grandfather, and great-grand father all worked at fischer packing company in lousiville, Kentucky. i show in 4-H and after the showing is all done there is an auction for whoever that showed who wants to sell their animal. I always owned a market barrow that i sold. You are olyn alowed to sell one animal. all the other animals that you showed you can have taken to the slaughter house for you and you go pick up the meat or you can take the animals home.
What you all are talking about now is called stunning and after that they hook them in shackles, cut their throat, and their heart pumps all the blood out.
I'm in ag, all my uncles and great uncles, grandfather, and great-grand father all worked at fischer packing company in lousiville, Kentucky. i show in 4-H and after the showing is all done there is an auction for whoever that showed who wants to sell their animal. I always owned a market barrow that i sold. You are olyn alowed to sell one animal. all the other animals that you showed you can have taken to the slaughter house for you and you go pick up the meat or you can take the animals home.
P
What they do now is mor humane than what they did way back when. A log time ago they would hang a hog upside down, slit its throat, and let it bleed to death.
What you all are talking about now is called stunning and after that they hook them in shackles, cut their throat, and their heart pumps all the blood out.
I'm in ag, all my uncles and great uncles, grandfather, and great-grand father all worked at fischer packing company in lousiville, Kentucky. i show in 4-H and after the showing is all done there is an auction for whoever that showed who wants to sell their animal. I always owned a market barrow that i sold. You are only alowed to sell one animal. all the other animals that you showed you can have taken to the slaughter house for you and you go pick up the meat or you can take the animals home.
My cousin sometimes slaughters his own hogs and my grandfather's hog that he owns.
I can remember in the winter when they were fixing the meat to be smoked. The best smoked meat there was.
If you have a breeding animal you can sell it to someone who asks you if you want to sell it, or if it is an exceptional animal then you usually take it home to breed youself.
I eat meat and will always eat meat. That's the way God made us and i don't intend on changing that.
I guess you all right about hunting being better, We will have to go shoot Bambi from now on.
What you all are talking about now is called stunning and after that they hook them in shackles, cut their throat, and their heart pumps all the blood out.
I'm in ag, all my uncles and great uncles, grandfather, and great-grand father all worked at fischer packing company in lousiville, Kentucky. i show in 4-H and after the showing is all done there is an auction for whoever that showed who wants to sell their animal. I always owned a market barrow that i sold. You are only alowed to sell one animal. all the other animals that you showed you can have taken to the slaughter house for you and you go pick up the meat or you can take the animals home.
My cousin sometimes slaughters his own hogs and my grandfather's hog that he owns.
I can remember in the winter when they were fixing the meat to be smoked. The best smoked meat there was.
If you have a breeding animal you can sell it to someone who asks you if you want to sell it, or if it is an exceptional animal then you usually take it home to breed youself.
I eat meat and will always eat meat. That's the way God made us and i don't intend on changing that.
I guess you all right about hunting being better, We will have to go shoot Bambi from now on.
Minus the mini argument over cow farts I agree that things are far more humane than they were even 25 years ago. We didnt have the technology developed then to effectively kill the animals with minimal 'suffering', many of those jobs were done by people. Since machinery has been developed the human part has been taken out which means less room for human error to cause suffering. Our processing has become more mechanical. Heck jobs were recently cut in the chicken plant in EVIS when more machines were bought to do the work. EVIS used to be a dept of 40-50 people, after they got rid of Trade-Pak, it was cut down to 25. Now it is only 10 people.
Now that we've added the machine element - do you think it is even more humane??
Now that we've added the machine element - do you think it is even more humane??