“What is wrong with veal?”. Animal Defenders International. Retrieved 4.07.08 – “After being ripped from their mothers shortly after birth, veal calves are chained in crates measuring 2 feet wide with slatted floors. The aim of these crates is to restrict even the simplest of movements such as turning around, stretching or lying down; the fewer the movements, the less muscle mass and therefore the calves’ meat stays tender. In addition, for the meat to stay pale (a not only desirable, but economically important quality for veal to possess), the calves must be anaemic. In order to achieve this, the calves are fed a milk substitute which lacks iron and fibre. Stereotypic behaviour is inevitable for the calves confined in this manner. They are frustrated, stressed, lacking nutrients and suffering from the separation from their mother and the need to suckle. Consequently, they kick, scratch and toss their heads (to the greatest degree that they can considering the size of their crate). The veal calves are slaughtered at around sixteen weeks of age.”
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