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2. - DAIRY COWS - LIFE USAGE SUFFERINGS
carcasses (dead bodies) to kill bacteria. They routinely check meat for microbes and have established hazard checkpoints. In addition, consumers can safeguard themselves by thoroughly cooking all meat.
Still, there are ever present ethical questions, even for those who do not think meat is murder. The industry's cold-eyed view of animals as products to be optimally exploited is no doubt disquieting to many people. It's worth keeping in mind, however, that no animals are slaughtered just to make floor wax or lipstick. 80 to 90 percent of a cow or pig's value is in the meat people eat. And, as cattle prices have slid to their lowest levels in a decade, prompting President Clinton to try to shore up beef prices last week, meat packers are more concerned with squeezing out every penny.
"Selling the byproducts means the difference between profit and loss for the industry, and affordable and unaffordable meat for the consumer," says Dr. Breiter. Dr. Bums adds: "If we didn't develop markets for the byproducts, we would have to dispose of them, which would create a different set of problems."
Still, visiting a modern meat packing operation can inspire awe as well as a new appreciation for vegetarianism just as more people would probably cook at home if they could peek into the kitchen of their favorite bistro.
American Slaughterhouse Statistics: On an average day in America, the following quantities of animals and birds are killed:
Animals/Birds Number Killed per day in USA Chickens
24,000,000 Hogs
360,000 Cattle
130,000
Calves
7,000
THE BOOK OF COMPASSION
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