Is it moral to eat meat? ***Constructive Discussion ONLY***

[Wolf-Kim]

I think religious debates should be left off here. Religious disagreements can lead to bitter fights and can be very offensive, especially for those who practice them.

I am religious myself, so I'm not trying to cut this part "out" or make it an invalid argument. I'm just saying for the sake of peace, maybe we ought to keep the religious comments to a bare minimal if at all. We definately shouldn't be judging or criticizing each other because of their beliefs.

This has been a great discussion I would have for it to go sour over such a sensitive subject like religion.

-Kim

 

[MRNpoultry]

If everybody stoped eating meat the wildlife population would jump. What would you do to keep that from happening?

 

[patandchickens]

No debating evolution or creation here- Mod

 

[Nupine]

Ok, here is 2 cents from a 13 year old lacto-ovo-vegetarian-with the exception of fish-who drinks store bought milk-but only eggs from her chickens-unless it is in like a store bought cake or something-girl.

I haven't ate meat since April 2007, and I love every second of it. It is a little hard though. When I go to McDonalds with my family, I am stuck with a pop, fries[which I think is fried in fat, but I got to eat something] and maybe a salad and dessert. Everyone else has big macs and such. It is very hard for me because I am an EXTREMELY picky eater. Probably worst then most of you will ever see. What I eat and don't eat: I eat fish, no chicken or red meat or funky stuff like venison, I eat most fruit in small quantities except mango and grapefruit, I don't like very many veggies, just corn, peas, green and wax beans, carrots, iceberg lettuce and that is about it, most bread products, I love dairy foods, mostly chocolate milk[easily a half gallon a day]and icecream, and some cheese, not much yogurt though, some meatless pastas, rice, and junk food. Some nuts and I love peanut butter. That's it.

Ok, I do not believe whatsoever in factory farms. They are a bunch of bull crap. 1 sq ft per 7 pound broiler is ridiculous. Same with the cattle and pigs and stuff. The only reason I eat fish is because I need to eat some source of protein. It is a main part of my diet. Now, if you homegrow your food and take great care of your food, I am applauding you. Factory Farms are terrible for everyone, it is killing the planet, killing us, the poor animals are suffering, so why is it still out there?? All that grain that is feeding the animals could be feeding us. It probably has something to do with gas prices. There isn't one good thing about it except that it provides some jobs. You could get much more grains for people food from the animal feed then you could meat from the animals. It also uses a lot of water and it is awful for the environment. It is complete bull crap. Do we eat our chickens? No. Have I sold birds for meat? Yes, most of the ones I sell go to good homes, but I have a lot of excess roosters.
Ashlyn

 

[dogzrule5]

Guitartists - I'm very healthy. It's a psychological thing with me that started the gagging....thinking of the animal. I can eat fried eggs all day long!

 

[chcknrs]

I eat meat. I do not consider it a moral issue, I consider it a nutritional issue. I have health problems, and am careful about what I eat. I try to eat as natural as possible, and my DH hunts, so we, too, eat a lot of venison and elk. I am raising some of my chickens for meat, and I have gotten some of Greyfield's naturally raised meat (which was excellent!).
I think the moral issue comes into play as to how the animal was slaughtered. Quickly and humanely is the right way, and that is how we look at it. We do our own butchering of the animals DH hunts, and he is very humane about the kill. He only kills for meat, never just for sport.
I went to the dump once during hunting season. It made me sick to see so many deer carcasses rotting away. I do think hunting for sport alone should not be allowed. Those hunters could at least donate the meat for the hungry and less fortunate.

 

[Guitartists]

Yeah! My mom was down on her luck last winter and they were picking them up off the road as long as they knew they were fresh! We were on freshly hit deer patrol all winter for them. We got a deer from a buddy of my DH's... really helped out over the winter. Filled the freezer nicely. I think trophy hunting is a horrible practice. But, agreed, the least they could do is donate the meat instead of wasting it.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Thanks Pat, you said what I was thinking about moral/ethical codes; but much more eloquently than I would have put it.

 

[BasenjiFan]

I only eat animal products IF I know that the animal was/is humanely raised, preferably "organically," and grass-finished (I don't eat pork because I don't care for it, but pigs obviously wouldn't be grass-finished, I'd want them to lead a normal porcine life), or I will eat an animal that has enjoyed a free life in the wild, and all should have their lives taken with respect. I also hate to see any part of the carcass wasted (I think it's silly and wasteful to only eat a certain cut of meat and toss out the rest, including edible offal). I eat fish that has the sustainable fishery seal (or something with a similar name... I know it when I see it, LOL). I don't want to support factory farming, and I try to eat locally (a feat in the AZ desert!), so I usually eat an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet - on which, I personally feel much healthier and more energized than when I ate more meat and dairy products from animals handled according to - what's the euphamism? - "industry standards." I guess you could call me a "flexitarian" or "sustainablitarian?"

I also try to find rare breeds from the ALBC to eat when I do eat meat. It sounds crazy, but you really do have to eat them to save them - create a demand for the rare and heritage breeds.

Oh, and I apply the same concerns to my dog's diet, though perhaps a little more loosely, for he is fed raw meat, organs, and bones, fruits and veggies; grain-free. I will not feed him mystery "meat meal."

 

[chickenannie]

Quote:
Kim, I really like what you said. When you love animals and work with them (as pets or otherwise) you have to make decisions about how to take care of them in real-life situations.

And I agree that fully understanding the butchering of an animal for meat makes you NEVER want to waste or over-consume meat. It is about respect for all things.

I'm a gardener and I have a lot of feeling for Trees and Plants as living things which I notice not everyone else shares. We eat apples, tomatoes, squash, etc which all carry seeds and the potential of new life just like chicken eggs. I will go out on a limb here and suggest that there's not necessarily that big of a separation between vegans and meat-eaters in terms of eating living things that we kill.