Dairy Farmer Tries To Take Calf

Some cows do fight back!

Do You Understand The Labels On The Egg Carton?

There have been several times people have told me that they only buy free range eggs and their belief is that if the chickens are free-range, they have a much better life than chickens in cages.

Well in a way they do … heck, anything would have a better life if it’s not cramped up living in a cage.  But is a confinement of any sort just as bad?

So do you know which eggs truly are free-range?  and, what constitutes free-range?

Back in 2013 I wrote a post "Do You Buy Free Range Eggs?".  Well, it's now 2015 and nothing really has changed.  So here's a bit more information for you.

I think we'd all agree the words “battery” “caged” even “colony cage” all mean that the hens are living in cages.
And, “barn raised” or just “barn” would mean that the hens live in a barn and not out doors.

But it’s when we get to the words “free-range” that the mis-interpretations happen.

Free-range conjures up visions of chickens roaming around lush, green pastures just doing their thing.  And yet when questioned, most people have no idea how the farmer collects the eggs from these free-ranging hens.  That part, we don’t think about.

The truth is most “free-range” hens actually spend most of their life in barns.  Barns that have doors that lead to the outside.  Of course, because the barn is full of hens, most of these chickens never reach the doors and therefore live their lives in a barn.  But, technically, they are free-range because they have the choice to go outside.

It usually is a matter of just how big the commercial operation is.  How many chickens are on the farm and the logistics of feeding, egg collection etc. as to how "free-range" they are.

Smaller free-range farmers do let their chickens range in the open, however, they bring them in at night where there are nesting boxes and where the hens can lay their eggs.  Other factors that come into play with bringing them in at night, is protecting the hens from the elements (weather) and from other animals that take eggs or kill chickens

I think the best idea I’ve ever seen is a movable nesting box called a "Chicken Caravan" which is made in Australia.  The beauty of this is that the farmer is able to move the chickens to fresh paddocks when needed and bring the nesting box at the same time.  The hens then are able to lay their eggs when the desire takes them.

Just so you know, a lot of commercial free-range companies are owned by large corporations that also have caged hens.  Where does that put you if you buy free-range for ethical reasons?

O.k., you’re happy having “free-range” and you trust the brand on the egg carton because you have researched them.  But let me ask you this.  Do you know what happens to the chicken at the start of its life and when she no longer can produce eggs?

Remember, this is a commercial operation.  This is the farmer’s livelihood.  He must get his young chickens from somewhere because he won’t have the room to breed them and he has to get rid of the older hens when they are no longer economically viable.  

The chickens come from the same place that battery hens do - a breeding farm dedicated to raising female hens for the egg market.  The baby chicks at one day old are inspected - if female they live, if male they go straight into the chute that drops them into a grinder or crusher …. ending up as animal food or fertilizer.

There’s no let up at the end of the chicken’s laying life.  Once she can no longer lay profitably (which is usually around 18 months), she is then crammed inside transport cages along with others and trucked to slaughter never with any food or water on the journey.

The killing process is usually pretty archaic, barbaric and torturous especially in the U.S. - killing which is deemed illegal with cattle or pigs is acceptable for fowl.  Even in 2015, it still continues.

If you’ve read this far and still going to eat eggs then check out the photo below.  If you think you might try eating less eggs or giving them up altogether there are many ways you can replace the egg with plants.  My Vegetarian to Vegan (get it here) book is a big help … plug, plug!!! or you can just type into Google “egg substitute” and you’ll get lots of ideas.

I'm going to leave you with a chart recently put out by SAFE (N.Z. animal welfare group).  You'll find it easy to understand and you'll have a lot better idea what the labels really mean.  Below that is the U.S.A. chart - slightly different as, except for “certified organic,” the U.S. government does not set definitions or requirements for egg carton labels. (If you live in other countries, you'll probably find that one of these charts will fit your country's labels).

U.S.A. chart:

Be very wary of anything else on the label such as the words "natural" - most of it is marketing hype.

Milk Companies Are Just Getting Desperate

I haven't really talked much about the dairy industry and the different types of milk that's on offer, mainly because I know that most of my readers still use dairy.  Plus the fact it's like "where do I start"?  There are so many dairy products out there, that I'm just glad I don't have it because I wouldn't know where to begin choosing which milk would be right for me.

However, I recently learned about a new product that's been launched that has me shaking my head with skepticism....which meant, I felt the need to blog.

Currently there has been quite a dramatic drop in the consumer purchase of dairy which is effectively creating a downturn in the dairy industry.  This appears to be happening world wide.

So dairy companies are trying to come up with ways to increase market share and this latest thing just cracked me up!
“Sleep-boosting dark milk” coming from a New Zealand company.  Something that's not too new as scientists in Finland have been working on this and it's also now available in Britain.

It appears that if you milk the cows after sunset and before sunrise, the milk produces a higher level of the hormone melatonin which is known to help regulate sleep.
Oh, the shed has to be dark as well.

This melatonin found in the milk after dark can be upwards of 10 times higher than that found in day time milk (or the normal milk).

So let’s see.  Our choice of milks are:

• Fat free
• Added calcium
• Added protein
• Lactose free
• Help you to sleep
• Organic
• Full cream

That covers a vast array of consumers doesn’t it?

My feeling is that milk is no longer “straight from the cow”.  It is bastardized until it’s pretty much unrecognizable, all for the health of the consumers…well, that’s what they want you to think.  What I think is that it’s all for the profit.

I have a whole chapter on milk in my Nutrition book where I talk about calcium, wrote the book before this new type of milk came out … I’ll have to include it when I do the update.

Stick with or change to a good dairy alternative - at least you’ll know it’s good for you.

And, one last thing ..... what about the poor cows having to be milked in the dark!

Yumalicious Tahini Dressing

I've been following the most awesome food blog for quite some time now.  It's the Minimalist Baker and if you have a hankering for some brilliant, easy, tasty vegan food, then check her out.

I'll get to the point in a moment.

Last week a group I belong to had our monthly vegan meal share and I was at a bit of a loss as to what to make considering the fact that I didn't really have much time.  So into the Minimalist blog for some ideas.

And, there it was, an absolute corker:  Sweet Potato Chickpea Salad.  Oh, the taste buds started to water and to top it off, it looked easy!

The MB did not disappoint!  It was easy, it was delish and best of all, it was a hit.

But the best part was the Tahini Dressing.  However, I did make a bit of a tweak from the one in MB's recipe.
The basic recipe is

• 1/4 cup (56 g) tahini
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 2-4 Tbsp hot water to thin   Find it here

But I added about a teaspoon of mixed spice and it just popped!

I have since used the tahini dressing on lots of other things like burgers and roasted veggies and salad and pita pockets etc.

Do yourself a favor and check out the Minimalist Baker I bet you'll find something ... and tell me if you do.   For now, I'm off to get the chickpeas out of the oven to cool for the salad later and to pour a wine.... oooo I might try the dressing with some crackers!

Cecil - Do I Need To Elaborate?

I think by now you have all heard about Cecil the lion who was lured out of his sanctuary, shot with a bow and arrow by an idiot dentist.  Wounded, it took the hunters 40 hours to find him when he was then put out of his pain.
Here's a video just to refresh your memory:


Now this has outraged the world community, and I'm not just talking about the vegans and vegetarians among us ... oh no, many a meat eater is up in arms about Cecil - and rightly so.

So what has prompted me to blog about something that you all know about?  I mean Cecil has been widely reported both on the internet and on mainstream media.
Well, it was this young lady ... Sabrina Corgatelli (and I use the term "lady" very, very loosely!)

So let's go with another video:


"Giraffes are very dangerous"  duh!  so are you!!!! The difference is, you've got a gun, the giraffe doesn't .... the giraffe, or any other animal for that matter, can't stalk you the way you stalk them.

I don't care what reason these trophy hunters have.  I don't believe they respect or love animals.  If they were that keen on "hunting" with a love of animals they would be carrying a camera not a weapon.

A person who "hunts" with a camera, in my opinion, has far more courage than all these trophy hunters put together.

Africa needs to be promoting the "camera hunt" far more - make it just as expensive!!!!!

And kudos to the airlines who have banned the shipment of trophies ..... just need the shipping companies now to follow suit!

I can feel my blood boiling - so signing off.

New Zealand McDonalds To Start Using Free Range Eggs.

Yes, you read the heading correctly.  The McDonalds restaurants (there’s 164 of them) through out New Zealand are going to be switching to free range eggs.

Is this a step in the right direction?  I believe it is.  For as much as I am not a fan of McDonalds (for a variety of reasons), you have to admit they are really trying to lift their image…..well, in New Zealand anyway.

This is going to start by the end of this year with all outlets on board by next year (2016).  Why so long to wait?  This is due to the fact that the free range egg farmers will have to invest quite a lot to increase production in order to supply the chain.

 

 

This is the Free Range we all believe

This is also classified as "Free Range"

I spoke to SAFE (N.Z. animal welfare) to make sure that McDonalds were, in fact, going to use actual free range - you know, the chickens running around outside (top picture), and not barn chickens with the door open (above).

Yes, indeed, true free range …. well done!

Now, the New Zealand government has said that all caged eggs must be replaced by Colony, Barn or Free Range by 2022.  Well, it would probably only take one more chain e.g. Burger King, to follow suit for the free range market to give the others a run for their money and perhaps we could even see the supermarket choices being either Free Range or Barn …. not a cage in sight.

If that happened, then McDonald’s should rightfully be given the kudos.

But, for now, for whatever reason McDonalds have done this (and there’ll be a dollar in it for them), at least it’s a step in the right direction.

Goodness, never thought I’d ever write the words “McDonalds” and “kudos” in the same sentence!!!!  

Now This Is Just Being Silly!

Today I read the most disturbing thing.

The Smithsonian Magazine reported that scientists are now messing about with the DNA of cows.  Reason?  To combat climate change and the rise in global temperatures.

Image via Flickr - Lance Cheung

So, let's step back a minute.  The first thing is that these particular scientists have declared their belief in global warming ... which is a good thing.

Now that they've done that - they have realized that, in order for the meat and dairy industries to continue, the cows are going to have to change.  (We're talking for both meat and dairy).  So, they're busy at trying to change the DNA so that the cows can "beat the heat".

"...Scientists and ranchers have an idea of traits that can contribute to heat tolerance - metabolic rates, ability to shed their coats, hair color - but there is no silver bullet. ....Several independent studies, however, have managed to link heat tolerance - at least in part - to the color of a cow's hair...."

What does that mean?  A bit of GM will be going on.

The stupid part is ... Livestock (and the majority are cattle), is the largest source of methane gas emissions worldwide, contributing over 28% of total emissions.  So let's think about reducing the intake of meat and dairy  ????  Right!  As if that's going to happen while it's such a big industry.

And, talking about genetically changing animals - In Australia, pigs are being bred to have more ribs than normal!

image via Flickr - Martin Pettitt

At the moment, it's so they can have more piglets.  You see, the more ribs, the longer the pig, the more nipples, the more piglets.  But it does make you wonder if they will bring this idea into the pork eating side of things.

Read more.