Andy states:
>
> I concur that the majority of Humanity are omnivores however if one
>made a short study of our intestinal systems it is obvious that it is
>designed much more like the herbivores (long intestine, etc...) however it
>is true that man can eat animals and digest them.
We not only can eat meat and digest it, but humans ARE and always have been
omnivores. The fossil record shows clearly that all human ancestors
sustained themselves on a combination of animal and vegetable matter. Our
closest relatives, chimpanzees, hunt and eat other animals and consume lots
of insects.
I'm not saying that we in western society NEED to eat meat--many of us more
sedentary, urban people would probably be better off eating less meat or
none at all. But I don't think that those of us who eat meat should have to
justify it somehow. I do think that we should raise the stock we use for
food in as humane a manner as possible. But small family livestock
operations generally are not the problem when it comes to poor animal
treatment. Getting back to the original posting from graze-L, I would
suggest that concern for the welfare of livestock is one of several reasons
why farmers convert to grazing-based systems.
Regards,
Laura
Laura Paine
Department of Agronomy
University of Wisconsin
1575 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608/262-6203
Fax: 608/265-3437
email: lkpaine@facstaff.wisc.edu