Veal is the meat of lambs, specifically the male offspring of dairy cattle, and is appreciated for its delicate taste, tender texture and nutritious qualities. Dairy cows must give birth annually to continue producing milk naturally, but male dairy calves are of little value to dairy farmers except as meat. Veal is often associated with Italian, French, and German cuisines, as well as cuisines of other middle-European countries. Veal is also a form of lamb, or baby offspring of lamb. North American consumers tend to prepare veal for special occasions only.

There are three types of veal: "Bob" veal (calves slaughtered when only a few days old), formula-fed veal, and nonformula-fed veal or "red veal". Nonformula-fed veal calves are given grain, hay, or other solid food in addition to milk. Formula-fed (or "milk-fed") veal calves are raised in confinement on a solely liquid diet. The humane movement is most concerned with this group.

Controversy

Formula-fed veal calves are traditionally raised by restricting their physical movement in order to minimize the growth of tough muscle fiber and to keep their flesh white and tender. The finest veal meat comes from unweaned calves. Formula-fed veal farming is universally condemned by animal rights activists and other sympathizers and is used as an example of the alleged cruelty of modern large scale animal farming. In the United Kingdom, where animal rights activism has had significant success, traditional formula-fed veal production has become rare for this reason.

Health risks posed by illegal administration of antibiotics to veal calves are similar and by no means unique to those posed by administration of antibiotics to other human-consumed livestock. Some critics of veal-farming have alleged that farmers compensate for unhealthy living conditions by administering tranquilising medication and high levels of antibiotics. While illegal administration of antibiotics, particularly neomycin, is on the rise, administration of tranquilising medication is not widespread practice nor is it documented in any credible scientific literature. Additionally, recent studies indicate that health threats caused by consumption of antibiotics in veal pose small clinical consequences for humans.

In recent practice, living conditions for veal calves vary greatly, with some modern farms providing clean, well-lit and -ventilated environments, with enough room for calves to stand, stretch, groom themselves and lay down in a natural position. As veal calves are typically at risk of becoming anemic—resulting in weakness and loss of appetite—modern farmers also often feed calves a carefully controlled, iron-rich diet.

In an episode of South Park, on a trip to a cow farm, the boys learn about veal and fight to get the name changed to "Baby tortured cows"

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