Author Topic: Aborting Animals (Read 1214 times)

jen51 · « **on:** April 18, 2013, 10:04:01 AM »

Maybe this is a silly question. Please forgive my ignorance.

I work some hours at a big ranching/farming operation in the office, cooking for hired hands, bookwork, etc. I recieved a package the other day with some medicine in it (I don't rememer the name of the medicine) and I had not heard of it. So I asked the boss's wife what it was. And she told me it was to abort calves. It stunned me. I was not expecting that answer. The thought horrified me. But it's not morally wrong, is it? As in, a sin? My thought would be no, since it is not a human being, but an animal, one in which we have dominion over. After I thought about it more, I thought about hunting and fishing. I have no problem with people killing the animals that way. Maybe it was just the word "abort" that shocked me. One thing that I took mental note of is that when she told me the medicine was to abort the calves, she wouldn't look me in the eye, but istead she said it quickly and quietly while looking down, and switched the subject immedietly. You could tell it bothered her.

What are your thoughts on this? Maybe it's not morally wrong, but ethically wrong? The cows were bred, but the original rancher decided to sell them. My boss bought them, but he doesn't run a cow/calf operation, so to suit his needs he aborted the calves. It just seems careless to me. Not being a very good steward of God's creatures? Maybe I'm being emotional and unreasonable. I know it's a business, but...

Yesterday my boss called the vet for him to come check on those cows who had just aborted their babies. He said there were about 60 fetuses laying on the ground in pasture. It made my stomach turn, and it gave me morbid dreams.

Maybe you can help me straighten my thoughts out. How am I to view this? I feel really bothered by it.

TKGS · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2013, 10:50:40 AM »

Sounds as if the new owner of the cattle has a sound reason for what he is doing. Not only is it not morally wrong, based on the scant information you provide it was probably the only ethical thing to do given the business circuмstances. The sale of the cows was probably necessary on the part of the seller and the purchase of the cows will ultimately provide the means of life to many people who both buy the meat and to the people who work for him.

The only issue that could have any moral implications here is whether the drugs involved will have any negative impact on the quality and healthiness of the meat produced.

I do, however, understand why, given the moral crassness of society today, the word and the thought of what happened would cause anguish. My mother used to say that she had an abortion between her 2nd and 3rd child. She had been a nurse during WWII and what we now call a miscarriage was often called, especially in the medical establishment, an abortion. Induced abortions, after all, were illegal and considered medically unethical and, frankly, unthinkable. Medically speaking, at the time, any pregnancy that terminated before birth was called an abortion. It took me a while, but she finally stopped using the "A-word" because it could be misunderstood.

Unfortunately, though I can explain why, intellectually, it is ok, I can't help you to understand, emotionally, why it is ok. I will pray for you to understand and accept what was necessary.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2013, 10:55:43 AM »

We should treat animals with respect, and perhaps this treatment of cows is not the best approach.

1st Mansion Tenant · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2013, 11:11:30 AM »

Is this a procedure that is done in the dairy industry? I am wondering why ranchers would wish to reduce the potential size of their herds.

jen51 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2013, 11:27:03 AM »

Quote from: 1st Mansion Tenant

Is this a procedure that is done in the dairy industry? I am wondering why ranchers would wish to reduce the potential size of their herds.

It's a widely used procedure used with almost any time of livestock commodity. Wether ranchers use it is dependent upon what type of operation they are running. These particular cows were intended to be fed out and sent to the slaughter house. After my boss bought them, he then sold them to a customer of ours who paid him to get them fat and sell them. If he was buying the cows to build his herd, he definately wouldn't have wanted to abort them.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2013, 11:34:23 AM »

I thought the meat we typically buy in the stores is steer meat.

jen51 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2013, 11:39:01 AM »

Quote from: Telesphorus

I thought the meat we typically buy in the stores is steer meat.

You would be correct! I'd say 80% of the cattle we recieve to feed are steers. Heifers are the next most common. Then cows.

Bull meat is commonly used for pepperoni and dog food. :barf:

Telesphorus · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2013, 11:43:21 AM »

Quote from: jen51

Bull meat is commonly used for pepperoni

How many bull-calves are allowed to be bulls these days?

Where I was living a couple years ago the cows weren't dehorned and they had a gentle snow white bull (which would have snow-white calves) watching over about 30 head of cattle.

I'm guessing the ratio is far worse than 1 in 30 nowadays.

jen51 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2013, 04:47:05 PM »

Quote from: Telesphorus

How many bull-calves are allowed to be bulls these days?

I'm not sure about a national average.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2013, 05:14:27 PM »

That bull must have been a Charolais.

jen51 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2013, 05:22:43 PM »

Quote from: Telesphorus

That bull must have been a Charolais.

Most likely!

1st Mansion Tenant · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2013, 05:57:14 PM »

:ready-to-eat:

jen51 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2013, 10:38:24 AM »

Quote from: TKGS

Sounds as if the new owner of the cattle has a sound reason for what he is doing. Not only is it not morally wrong, based on the scant information you provide it was probably the only ethical thing to do given the business circuмstances. The sale of the cows was probably necessary on the part of the seller and the purchase of the cows will ultimately provide the means of life to many people who both buy the meat and to the people who work for him.

The only issue that could have any moral implications here is whether the drugs involved will have any negative impact on the quality and healthiness of the meat produced.

I do, however, understand why, given the moral crassness of society today, the word and the thought of what happened would cause anguish. My mother used to say that she had an abortion between her 2nd and 3rd child. She had been a nurse during WWII and what we now call a miscarriage was often called, especially in the medical establishment, an abortion. Induced abortions, after all, were illegal and considered medically unethical and, frankly, unthinkable. Medically speaking, at the time, any pregnancy that terminated before birth was called an abortion. It took me a while, but she finally stopped using the "A-word" because it could be misunderstood.

Unfortunately, though I can explain why, intellectually, it is ok, I can't help you to understand, emotionally, why it is ok. I will pray for you to understand and accept what was necessary.

Thank you for your reply. I think you are right, but it still makes me sad, ya know? It's ok to be sad about it,I think, while accepting it. I mean, it's dead baby animals. It's something that I am sure I will encounter again at my job, so thank you for praying that I will understand and accept it. God bless you.

ShepherdofSheep · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2013, 11:29:34 AM »

Quote from: jen51

Quote from: TKGS
Sounds as if the new owner of the cattle has a sound reason for what he is doing. Not only is it not morally wrong, based on the scant information you provide it was probably the only ethical thing to do given the business circuмstances. The sale of the cows was probably necessary on the part of the seller and the purchase of the cows will ultimately provide the means of life to many people who both buy the meat and to the people who work for him.

The only issue that could have any moral implications here is whether the drugs involved will have any negative impact on the quality and healthiness of the meat produced.

I do, however, understand why, given the moral crassness of society today, the word and the thought of what happened would cause anguish. My mother used to say that she had an abortion between her 2nd and 3rd child. She had been a nurse during WWII and what we now call a miscarriage was often called, especially in the medical establishment, an abortion. Induced abortions, after all, were illegal and considered medically unethical and, frankly, unthinkable. Medically speaking, at the time, any pregnancy that terminated before birth was called an abortion. It took me a while, but she finally stopped using the "A-word" because it could be misunderstood.

Unfortunately, though I can explain why, intellectually, it is ok, I can't help you to understand, emotionally, why it is ok. I will pray for you to understand and accept what was necessary.

Thank you for your reply. I think you are right, but it still makes me sad, ya know? It's ok to be sad about it,I think, while accepting it. I mean, it's dead baby animals. It's something that I am sure I will encounter again at my job, so thank you for praying that I will understand and accept it. God bless you.

I don't believe that it is intrinsically wrong when done for a good reason. Just like I believe that it is acceptable to induce a ewe before her due date if she is down with ketosis and the "removal of the fetal load" is the only way to save her life.

But is it sickening? Yes! I deeply dislike the taking of animal life even though it is often for a good reason. But it is to give life to us. When it can be avoided, it should be. It's fine to raise livestock for meat, to hunt, to use animals in research. I enjoy a good steak as much as anybody. We care for them , and in return, they care for us.

God bless you for your concern. I wish men and women alike would again consider it an honorable thing to care for and protect the weak and defenseless. It used to be a sign of masculine and feminine strength and not so many feel that way anymore. We are not called His sheep for nothing!

jen51 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2013, 01:42:55 PM »

Thank you, SOS. I was eagerly anticipating a reply from you, as I'm sure you come across this quite frequently in your field.