| As with most dietary questions, vegans are split on | | | | milk. They are also fed numerous steroids to increase |
| the issue of dairy products - not so much on the | | | | production. |
| question of whether or not they are acceptable, but | | | | Others who abstain for ethical reasons often cite the |
| instead for what reasons they should not be | | | | maltreatment of dairy cow offspring. They note that |
| consumed. | | | | calves are not allowed to spend time with or suckle |
| All vegans (or at least true vegans) abstain from | | | | from the mother, but instead are prematurely |
| consuming dairy products. Some do so for nutritional | | | | removed to be reared for either veal production, |
| reasons; others abstain for ethical reasons. | | | | beef production, or as replacement dairy cows. |
| Those who do it for nutritional reasons cite a range | | | | The calves selected for "veal" production are often |
| of health problems related to the consumption of | | | | forced to live in crates so tiny that they cannot turn |
| dairy products, including high cholesterol. Many also | | | | around. They must face in one direction; they cannot |
| have a problem digesting lactose or have a blood-iron | | | | groom themselves; and they are fed hormone-laden |
| or diabetic problem related to milk protein, casein. In | | | | feed until they are sent off to be slaughtered. |
| addition to this, milk and cheese often contain small | | | | If you are a prospective vegan, you may want to |
| portions of undesirable hormones that are added to | | | | take some time now to think about what is best for |
| dairy cow feeds to increase production. | | | | you. Ask yourself whether you wanted to become a |
| Those who abstain from consuming dairy products | | | | vegan for ethical reasons, dietary reasons, or both. |
| for ethical reasons also have a range of reasons for | | | | And from there, determine whether or not these |
| doing so. | | | | arguments were strong enough to compel you to do |
| Some cite the poor treatment of dairy cows as a | | | | so. Either way, you should emerge with a stronger |
| main reason for not consuming milk and cheese. They | | | | viewpoint and a better understanding of what you |
| note that dairy cows are forced to become pregnant | | | | do and do not want. |
| once each year to maintain a constantly high yield of | | | | |