Dairy cows must be pregnant in order to give milk, and their female offspring either become dairy cows themselves or are slaughtered immediately. The males, however, are sold for beef or veal--in fact, the veal industry was developed specifically as a way to make a profit on all these extra male dairy calves. It has been said that there is "a piece of veal in every glass of milk."  (Learn more about dairy at our page here.) 

This veal calf will be killed after being chained to this crate for 4 to 6 months. (Photo: Farm Sanctuary)

 Veal is the meat of calves who were taken from their mothers at only a few hours old, raised in intense confinement, and killed at four to six months of age. They are fed a liquid diet intentionally deficient in both iron and fibre; the resulting anemia makes their meat extremely white and tender.

To better restrict muscle development, veal calves are chained by their necks inside a two-foot wide crate for the entirety of their short lives. 1 They are unable to turn around, stretch, or even lie down comfortably. Many scientists and experts in animal welfare have spoken out against the use of veal crates. 2

Calves kept in these crates exhibit classic symptoms of stress and anxiety, such as head tossing and shaking, kicking, scratching, and stereotypical chewing behavior. 3 This last symptom is in part the result of having been separated from their mothers; as babies, the calves are driven to suckle and chew anything they can. 4 The company of other calves becomes even more necessary without the presence of a mother cow, but crates separate them and make socialization impossible.

These veal calves are chained to their crates, unable to even turn around. (Photo: Farm Sanctuary)

Restricting muscle development makes the calves' meat tender, and anemia makes it pale. Despite being ruminants, the animals are denied hay or grains; they also are not allowed bedding of straw or corncobs. 5 The iron- and fibre-deficient diet fed to veal calves results in extreme weakness, as well as diarrhea. Veal calves also commonly develop ear and respiratory infections. 6

See more pictures of veal calves.

1. 1. Farm Sanctuary, Veal Production
2. 2. Farm Sanctuary, Expert Statements
3. 3. Farm Sanctuary, Veal Production
4. 4. Chai Online, Veal Calves Factsheet
5. 5. Smith, John M., Ohio State University Fact Sheet: Raising Dairy Veal
6. 6. PubMed, The effect of low dose oral human interferon alpha therapy on diarrhea in veal calves., 1993