The future of dairying/Animal rights activists

God put these creatures here for our use, end of story and ranchers and farmers are the most compassionate people out there when it comes to animals

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Yea though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff comfort me

I guess I just don't understand the difference between a cheetah eating a gazelle (and that seen as being acceptable) and us eating a cow? Isn't it the same thing? Is it because we should "know better"? Does that make it wrong that a cheetah wants to eat a gazelle? That's just the way nature is meant to work!

Maybe PETA should get out there on the African plains chasing the predators down with their "SAY NO TO MEAT" signs.

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"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap."

A agree with nature taking it's course and animals hunting for survival. i also have no problems with people eating meat. i think the difference there though is, that Gazelle ran free and lived it's life according to it's survival instincts (or lack there of), ran the plains, drank from ancient water sources, possibly had it's babies on the plains......
Most if not all of our packaged supermarket meat comes from animals that were not allowed that dignity, even some small farmers keep thier animals in fenced penned areas for what ever reason that may be and those critters are bred to not know any difference.
In regards to the first post regarding the dairy industry., i can't really think of an industry that is more "unnatural".
corry

In reply to Earthbound's comment. I have borrowed these paragraphs from another person on another forum:

"I personally would have to disagree with comments about commercially raised livestock being treated inhumanely.

No, commercially raised livestock may not be "loved" and doted on like some home-raised animals are, but the vast majority of livestock raised on a larger scale are treated in a humane manner. If anything, I think they are often better off than "home raised" animals because the owners are typically much more experienced and knowledgeable about animal husbandry so the animals get better care.

How often do we hear on this site about ewes dying from ketosis or other problems that are easily prevented? What about lambs that die of coccidiosis? I've seen "backyard" sheep that are never shorn, wormed, or vaccinated. Their owners may love their sheep dearly, but they are not educated enough to know any better. Livestock raised on a larger scale, however, are generally allowed to run on large pastures and recieve adequate veterinary care. If the owners didn't do this, they would be out of business pretty fast.

Also, ranchers aren't getting rich off their livestock. They are working long hours, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, through blazing sun and blowing blizzards. They certainly aren't in it for the money, so they must be doing it for the love of the animal. I've heard of a lot of cowmen fighting back a tear or two when it comes time to sell an old cow. And I've known many commercial sheepmen who owned several thousand head each who sincerely cared about the well being of each one of their ewes.

I hope this didn't sound like a lecture, but I just hate to see large producers "villian-ified" if that makes sense."

DixieDoodle's statement that people who complain while "relying on others to feed them" is very thought-provoking. Life is a serious business, and those who wait for the food to be delivered on a foam tray from the grocery store or the farmers' market need to understand that the meat or grain or fruit or vegetables they are buying and eating were produced with blood, sweat, and tears.

But then again, a lot of our domesticated animals, if exposed to a "natural and wild" setting, would probably die because they are not adapted for it anymore. And again, most farm animals have been raised tame and prefer the security of things like the barn; they don't generally run for the hills like fugitives if a gate is left open.

As for farm animals not having access to the above resources, what about cattle that are allowed to roam large fields, drink from the creek (much to the farmer's dismay, as it is probably infected with one disease or another), drop their calves in the field, and pretty much spend their life in leisure, almost totally free of predators? I think you may be referring to the more "commercial" farms, but for sure not all livestock is treated in this manner. Many do still come from "family farms". I think it's safe to say that domesticated animals do not "miss" their freedom or pine away for the open plains.

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"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap."