Vegetarians and milk

[butterflies]

Can any vegetarians on here tell me why as vegetarians you drink milk and eat cheese and yoghourts etc when on dairy farms thousands of newborn male calves are slaughtered as they are not 'needed'. They're too expensive to keep and rear for meat.
It's a question as I'm curious...

[lajohn]

People become vegetarians for various reasons, not necessarily for the sake of sparing the lives of animals as your post seem to indicate. Many become vegetarian because they are allergic to meat, don't like the taste of meat, can�t stand the scent of fresh, etc.

Anyway I will leave this question for the professional and real vegetarian to respond.

[scoobysoo]

I remember doing a project of vegetarianism when I was at school. True vegetarians do not consume dairy or eggs. I'm not sure if this is correct, but when I did my project back in 1994, vegetarians were sub-categorised as:

Pescatarian - no meat but eat eggs, dairy, fish and use by-products like leather

Ovo Lacto Vegetarian - no meat or fish, but eats eggs, dairy and uses by -products

Lacto Vegetarian - no meat or fish, but eats eggs and uses by -products

Ovo Vegetarian - no meat or fish, but eats dairy and uses by- products

Vegetarian - no meat, fish, dairy or eggs but uses by- products

Vegan - no animal products or by products

[Richard1966]

the following is taken from the vegetarian society website.

Only vegans exclude milk and cheese


A vegetarian is someone living on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with or without the use of dairy products and eggs.

A vegetarian does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or slaughter by-products.

Types of Vegetarian

Lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Eats both dairy products and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarian diet.

Lacto-vegetarian. Eats dairy products but not eggs.

Vegan. Does not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other animal product.

[butterflies]

Thank you all. I know there are different kinds of vegetarian but presume the majority are vegetarian by choice as they are against the fact of killing animals, fish etc A cow isn't killed for its milk but of course needs a calf to produce milk, however if this calf is male it is usually slaughtered. So there's a link in the killing of animals for milk. If the male calf is kept it is usually killed at 6 months for veal. So still the link. I'd just like to know how a vegetarian doesn't have a problem with this.

[Jugglering]

I'm veggie but not originally for ethical reasons - I simply cannot digest meat (makes my lower end a bit dodgy) nor eat fish (it makes my throat close up). However, I always understood a vegetarian to be one who did not eat meat or fish, whereas a vegan ate no meat, fish or dairy produce.

Regarding the milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter etc products, these are a by product - no animal is killed to obtain these, so most veggies are ok with eating those products. The calf mentioned does not *have* to be killed in order to achieve them, it simply serves the farming industry to do so. I have a real problem with veal when the baby calf has been kept in a cage and fed a anaemic diet in order to keep the meat white, or with battery farming where chickens etc are kept in tiny cages. That seems like cruelty to me.

[butterflies]

Thank you so much jugglering. I can quite understand those who can't digest meat or fish to become vegetarian.
Regarding veal; I personally only eat veal that's reared on pasture and any meat come to that. We do have that choice of paying more for a better respect of the animal. I wouldn't pay for a chicken at less than �6 as I know under that I'd be paying for a chicken which hadn't been reared as it should.

[magnolialady]

I am a lacto ovo vegetarian have been since I was born.had a modt terrible reaction when I was born and young my mum was advised against trying ax it was affecting my health.i eat salad etc pulses nuts and plenty of veg.i am very healthy,and it doesnot bother me at all.i cannot handle any meat or fish at all .can cook some types.my family are all meat eaters.doesnt bother me at a.l even when eating out.