Cows
Welfare
-Universal practice is that calves are taken away from their mothers soon after birth. Like humans, cows aren’t always naturally milk-producing, so they are impregnated (often artificially) regularly, often with consequences
-Cows are about as intelligent as dogs. When they’re separated from family, then, it can be very emotionally painful.
-The RSPCA sites other key welfare issues as: lameness (weakness of legs, painful, and affecting up to a third of UK dairy cows), mastitis (inflammation of the udder), and the need for comfort and care during calving, when cows are naturally weaker.
Environmental impact: Biggest overall environmental impact
-Responsible for much of the methane released into the atmosphere, a gas about 4x as harmful as CO2 for global warming. Overall effect of beef about double that of the next most harmful, lamb meat.
-About 1514 litres water used per kg beef
Sheep
Welfare
–Mutilations are a painful problem. Castration is often done to prevent breeding, aid fattening and reduce aggression – aka, with unnecessary cruelty. Tail docking (cutting much of the tail off) is another often unnecessary type of mutilation.
-Many ewes and lambs die because of weakness and inadequate protection against, for example, illness or the cold.
–Transportation: sheep are transported around the world in cramped, hot conditons.
Environmental impact
-About 10412 litres water used per kg meat
Pigs
Environmental impact:
-About 5988 litres water used per kg pork
Chicken
About 4325 litres water used per kg pork
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