therefore, whether thepleasant lives of thehens (plus the
benefits to us of the eggs) are sufficient to outweigh the
killingthatisapartofthesystem.One’sanswertothatwill
depend on one’s view about killing, as distinct from the
inflictionofsuffering.Thereissomefurtherdiscussionofthe
relevant philosophical issues in the final chapter of this
book.^27 In keeping with the
reasonsgiventhere,Idonot,onbalance,objecttofree-range
egg production.
Milkandmilkproductslikecheeseandyogurtraisedifferent
issues.WehaveseeninChapter 3 thatdairyproductioncan
bedistressingforthecowsandtheircalvesinseveralways:
thenecessityofmakingthecowpregnant,andthesubsequent
separationofthecowandhercalf;theincreasingdegreeof
confinementonmanyfarms;thehealthand stressproblems
causedbyfeedingcowsveryrichdietsandbreedingthemfor
ever-greater milk yields; and now the prospect of further
stress from daily injections of bovine growth hormone.
In principle, there is no problem in doing without dairy
products.Indeed,inmanypartsofAsiaandAfrica,theonly
milkeverconsumedishumanmilk,forinfants.Manyadults
from theseparts oftheworldlack theabilityto digestthe
lactosethatmilkcontains,andtheybecomeilliftheydrink
milk.TheChineseandJapanesehavelongusedsoybeansto
makemanyofthethingswemakefromdairyproducts.Soy
milksarenowwidelyavailableinWesterncountries,andtofu
icecreamispopularwiththosetryingtoreducetheirintakeof
fat and cholesterol. There are even cheeses, spreads, and
yogurts made from soybeans.