To ask why you aren’t vegan

[Whereisthecoffee]

I’m not vegan , I know it’s good for the planet kinder to animals etc but it’s something I just can’t seem to get to grips with. I’ve been thinking about starting vegan January but I’m not sure. Thinking about my choices and it’s prevalence in the media has made me curious about others so tell me why aren’t you vegan? I think my main reason is convenience.

🥓 bacon 🥓

I am a huge meat/dairy lover. Then I married a dairy farmer... the more I learn the more I wish I had the willpower to go vegan since having my children it makes my heart hurt to witness newborn calves separated from their mothers so that we can have the milk intended for them . They bawl and cry for each other, it’s desperately cruel . I fed my babies expressed breastmilk - it was hell pumping around the clock - and got mastitis with my first. This is an every day reality for dairy cows.

They’re pretty humane where I live and there are strict animal cruelty laws and plenty of lovely fields for the cows to chomp on but one of the worst things I’ve witnessed: they send the bull into a field of cows to impregnate them. One bull was bloody huge and agressive and kept following this cow that was trying to run away and keep jumping up on her back and her hind legs would give way. In the end he pretty much broke her back. She couldn’t get up and laid in the field for two days. My FIL tried to hoist her up but to no avail, on the second day they called the vet but before the vet arrived she died.

I’m originally from the city and was completely ignorant about the systems our food comes from before I moved here. But to look out my kitchen window and see an innocent animal lying dead on its side after suffering for two days just so I could have milk in my coffee really brought home how sick we are as a species.

@Pernickity1. 🙁🙁🙁.

Those were meant to be sad faces.

Because I was born an omnivore and it suits me. I try to always eat ethically sourced meat, but honestly it isn't always possible. If you're out at a party or whatever it's not easy to question where the chicken came from. I buy free range and organic and eat less but well-farmed meat. We do eat a lot of vegetarian food but we also eat meat and fish and I would miss it if we gave it up.

A lot of us do give a shit though Aghhh.

I'm not a vet, (although there is a vet called Kat at the practice we use!) but I've seen the state of some animals on our farms (particularly poultry) and it's a huge part of what put me off eating meat.

1. Humans need 20 amino acids and 9 are essential-you can't make them and need to get them from your diet. Very difficult if you don't eat meat, dairy or eggs.
2. Look at your teeth-you evolved to eat meat.
3. If you live in northern Europe you evolved to eat meat and dairy because that's the only way to get sufficient calories from the land you live on. Buying almond milk and avocados from California isn't very ethical.
4. People are harmed by the global consumer culture. I think it's better to buy less clothes/electronics/cosmetics etc. and eat free range eggs that have a new iphone and eat tofu.

@Honeyroar Don't suppose you don't care if all us meat eaters get cancer either do you? That's what I was on about.

81Byerley said it right off

The big problem is the world population plus food waste (and that includes food wasted by making people overweight and obese).
Also nobody ever talks about the environmental impact of domestic pets. Maybe eat a bit of meat but keep a few hens instead of a carnivorous dog or cat.

anonymousss there we go.your now implying I don't have empathy and emotions towards animals because im not vegan!
I can still love animals.and have empathy for them.
I don't have to believe their rearing or ending is painful.or wrong.it might not be the life id wish they could have if the world was perfect but this Is how human have been doing this for centurys.
and its how predators get their fuel.cave man bashed thing over the head.lions chase down gazelles. birds swoop on worms. there is an order of things that mean to get the meat one animals has to die.
but is it wrong to eat meat and wha ti think on that subject doesn't mean I cant be all loving and emotional about welfare of animals.
if anything it means im more pro treating them well,makig sure farming standards are up to scrath.and ive seen good farmers work and have never seen a more dedicated set up in many many place.the love.the way they are at one with their flock is amazing.

Pernickity1 that says more about their famring standards.tjeu should be detailed specifics for finding a bull.they should be supervised when breeding.and it isn't so cold as sending a bull in to empregnate.that like saying the man walked into the room when him and his wife were trying to concieve to impregnate her! the tone just makes it sound vulgar.it doesn't look like the care was given to the animals on the farm you speak of but I have enver seen this.

also with the WRIPPING AWAYthe calf SCREAAAAAAMING FOR THEIR MAMMIES.what you mean like when little babies are taking away when they are just born and put into a separate place for extra care.when they are in the rooms with other babies In the cots often crying is this the same...not all calfs are stolen from their mums.many grow for a good whilst alongside mum.and are taken away for special feeding If they need it and there they are doted over by the farmers who come and sit and check and then feed them in special troughs to make sure they are well.when they can be they will see the heffers.
its not all black and white cruelty and your missing so much inbetween care.and missing how step can be taken to give the best care and life so a farm animals.the ending is going to happen and this is how we get meat.their cant be a blanket ban on saying its all wrong wrong wrong when there is too many different opiinions.too many different ways of safety rules and regs around the world so farming standards can be so varied.
you can accept people are different and perhaps work together to make thigns the best they can be for all.now there's a thought

I think the intensive farming that is now common is cruel and I think dairy farming is maybe the worst. I don't eat meat and I am considering giving up cows milk as I feel it's wrong. I don't drink a lot and already use some alternatives.

I think I would feel better morally if I was vegan but it seems quite difficult to follow. I will keep considering for now whilst keeping my dairy intake minimal.

you mean like when little babies are taking away when they are just born and put into a separate place for extra care

Do you mean intensive care when a baby is ill.
I don’t see how you can compare the 2.

Even then the parents are by their side.

I am virtually vegan, no leather no milk or dairy (use soya or nut milk in my coffee)
Vegan cheese (although we have only found one brand that we actually like)

I actually hate the smell and taste of meat.

I could never get why people loved bacon. It definitely smelled a lot stronger that it tasted.

I was brought up on meat and struggled through my life with terrible stomach problems.

Gave up meat and I haven’t had a problem since.

Gave up wheat and dairy and my eczema cleared up much better

Because humans are omnivores, and because you can prise my tea with real milk from my cold dead hands.

I could certainly eat a lot less meat and cheese than I do though.

Because bacon

because of...... BACON

Honestly? I just don't care enough any more. I was a vegan for a while many moons ago. I was very cross about the meat industry, farming methods etc. Now I try and buy as 'kindly' as I can afford but I've got too much stuff going on at a personal level to worry too much about the bigger issues on a daily basis. Not saying it's right but that's the way it is for me.

I am- you can do it OP! Check vegan food U.K. on Facebook, so much great stuff out there, looking forward to trying asda’s Chocolate dome filled with mousse, raspberry sauce and cookie crumble.

@AloneInMyHead it’s really not that difficult to follow- try www.challenge22.com/challenge22/ and/ or veganuary and/or start a thread on mumsnet’s vegan section for support!

Because I like eating meaty things. No big mystery. Apart from liver.

The fact that it upsets some vegans is a bonus.

Oh, and bacon too.

@kateandme but the calves aren’t taken away for extra care it’s so we can drink their milk

Also many males are shot in the head as babies.

@BadLad why do you want to upset people? It takes all sorts of course but generally I’d like to leave a positive impact and think most people are the same, the goal of upsetting people seems quite vindictive.