VEAL is the meat of young cattle (calves).

Though veal can be produced from a calf of either sex and any
breed, most veal comes from male calves of dairy cattle breeds. Next to beef, veal has a delicate taste and
tender texture.

Bob veal, from calves that are slaughtered when only a few days old (70-100lb.) up to 150 lb. (USA only)

Formula-fed (or "milk-fed") veal, from calves that are raised on a nutritionally complete milk formula
supplement. The meat colour is ivory or creamy pink, with a firm, fine, and velvety appearance. Usually
slaughtered when they reach 18–20 weeks of age (450-500 lb).

Non-formula-fed ("red" or "grain-fed") veal, from calves that are raised on grain, hay, or other solid food, in
addition to milk. The meat is darker in colour, and some additional marbling and fat may be apparent. Usually
marketed as calf, rather than veal, at 22–26 weeks of age (650-700 lb).

Rosé veal UK is from calves reared on farms in association with the UK RSPCA's Freedom Food programme. Its
name comes from its pink colour, which is a result of the calves being slaughtered at around 35 weeks.

Free-raised veal, The veal calves are raised in the pasture, have unlimited access to mother’s milk and pasture
grasses. They are not administered hormones or antibiotics. These conditions replicate those used to raise
authentic pasture-raised veal. The meat is a rich pink color. Free-raised veal are typically lower in fat than
other veal. Calves are slaughtered at about 24 weeks of age.

In some culinary circles, veal is also used to refer to baby lamb.

The veal industry's support for the dairy industry goes beyond the purchase of surplus calves. It also buys large
amounts of milk by-products. Almost 70% of veal feeds (by weight) are milk products. Most popular are whey
and whey protein concentrate (WPC), by-products of the manufacture of cheese. Milk by-products are sources
of protein and lactose. Skimmed milk powder, casein, buttermilk powder and other forms of milk by-products
are used from time to time.

Veal is a controversial issue in terms of animal welfare.

Multiple animal welfare organizations, who strongly focus on factory farming, attempt to educate consumers
about several veal production procedures that they consider to be inhumane. This education has proven
successful in creating pressure on the industry, resulting in recently announced changes in the methods used by
the veal industry.

A strong animal welfare movement concerning veal started in the 80s with the release of photographs of veal
calves tethered in crates where they could barely move. After the release of these photographs, veal sales have
plummeted, and have never recovered.
Many veal farmers listened to the concern of their customers and have started improving conditions in their veal
farms.

The American Veal Association, has announced that they plan to phase out the use of crates by 2017, which is
often the main focus of controversy in veal farming. Strauss Brands is the first veal packer in the US to raised
veal calves in a completely tether free and group raised since 12/31/08.

Criticism with veal crates revolves around the facts that the veal calves are highly restricted in movement, have
unsuitable flooring, spend their entire lives indoors, experience prolonged sensory, social, and exploratory
deprivation, and are more susceptible to high amounts of stress and disease. Though, according to the Veal
Quality Assurance Program & Veal Issues Management Program industry fact sheet, and the Ontario Veal
Association, individual housing systems are important for disease control, and in reducing the possibility of
physical injury. Furthermore, they state that it also allows for veal farmers to provide more personal attention
to veal calfs, being in individual crates.

Alternative agricultural practices for using male dairy calves include raising bob veal (slaughter at 2 or 3 days
old), raising calves as "red veal" without the severity of dietary restrictions needed to create pale meat
(resulting in fewer antibiotic treatments and fewer slaughtered calves), and as dairy beef.

When it comes to the centuries-old method of free raised veal, calves never experience the stress of
confinement, separation from their mothers and herd-mates, or an unnatural diet. Many veal producers are
realizing this, and the demand for free raised veal is rapidly increasing.

In 2007, less than 5% of veal calves were raised in a group raised environment. In 2009, this has increased to
35%. Free Raised or authentic pasture raised veal is only being offered by Strauss Brands at this time.

In November of 2009, a slaughterhouse certified as an organic processor in Vermont specializing in bob veal was
closed after a series of continuous cases of inhumane treatment towards veal calves. Inhumane treatment, in
this situation, involved calves that appeared to have been skinned alive, kicked, dragged, and shocked while
conscious.

A USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service inspector was shown in a video investigation coaching a
slaughterhouse worker on ways to avoid having the facility being shut down. The facility was shut down by the
USDA with the Vermont Agriculture Agency.

An organic dairy farmer in a different area in Vermont claims the following:

"I wouldn't be in this business if that's the way it was. That's not the norm. I can tell you that."

Furthermore, a spokeswomen for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture stated this:

"These practices are not representative of the industry as a whole in Vermont."

The USDA does not approve the use of hormones on veal calves for any reason, with the exclusion for use in
ruminating cattle, which is not related to veal.

The USDA does approve antibiotics in veal raising to treat or prevent disease.
In 2004, an official of the USDA found a lump on a veal calf in a Wisconsin veal farm. This lump turned out to
be an illegal hormone implant (such implants are only allowed legally for beef cattle). Through further
investigation, it was understood that around 90% of veal calves in the U.S. were fed synthetic testosterone
illegally. The American Veal Association has confessed that this practice has been going for 30 years.

The USDA expresses concern that the use of illegal drugs might be widespread in the veal industry.

The USDA claims, in relation to penicillin, the following:

"Penicillin is not used in calf raising: tetracycline has been approved but is not widely used."

The following shows where veal crates have been banned, or are currently in the process of being banned:

Veal crates became illegal in the UK in 1990, and a full ban has been placed for the entire European Union, as
of 2007.

Crates are slowly being banned in the United States. As stated above, several large veal producers are working
on phasing out veal crates, as well as the American Veal Association. State-by-state veal crate bans are as
follows:

2006 - Arizona (effective 2012, a part of Proposition 204)

2007 - Oregon (effective 2013)
2008 - Colorado (effective 2012)
2008 - California (effective 2013, a part of Proposition 2)
2009 - Maine (effective 2011)
2009 - Michigan (effective 2013)
Current active legislation in:
New York State (proposed in May of 2009, if passed: planned to take effect in 2015)
Massachusetts (proposed in January of 2009, if passed: planned to take effect in 2015)

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veal