Page 62 - Spring2010

All Thumbs Book Reviews

The Compassionate Carnivore thor also briefly mentions the question of what,
Catherine Friend ultimately, is the purpose of these animals? I was
Published by Da Capo Life Long disappointed that she didn’t go into more detail
but I suppose that’s just me.
This would not be the first book I’ve read Toward the end there is a chapter on vegan
that was written by a shepherd. There are some strategy. In a nutshell the point is that the vegan
good points in the book along with a good sense strategy for helping animals is ineffective. I
of humor. Most people who read this will already would agree. Their strategy is just to not eat any
know industrial feedlots are not a good thing. I animal products. OK, if that’s what you want to
heard somewhere a long time ago that no one do, that’s your choice, but how does that help?
can do a thing unless they are somehow able I can just see the feedback I’m going to get for
to justify it to themselves. So how do feedlot saying this but I don’t care. Since healthy om-
operators do what they do? At least some of nivores are generally better at reproducing that
them actually believe the cows don’t mind. Ms. vegans, it is unlikely that vegans will ever be a
Friend shares the anecdote about a cattleman majority and by simply not eating meat, they are
with a large feedlot who was telling his visitors not helping themselves and they are not really
just that. When one of the visitors suggested he helping animals, which will just be eaten by those
open the gate to the open field and let the cows pesky omnivores.
decide, he was disinclined to acquiesce. This is not a totally bad book and almost
The reader gets a fairly detailed view of what got a thumbs up but the author strayed into en-
goes on around a sheep farm. We see not just the vironmental issues and got on my nerves a little.
scenic, fun and pleasant side but also the less Some may think I’m being a little too harsh and
glamorous and sometimes painful side also. We I respect that, but here is how I see it. Part of the
get some excellent pointers on solving problems subtitle of the book mentions something about
which are sure to come in very useful someday. reducing your hoofprint. When that statement is
For example, if you have an upset pig, the way to out there all by itself, it invites all kinds of misin-
calm her down—give her a beer. We also learn terpretation. It seems to imply we have too many
a little about the joys of AI (farmers know what cows, sheep, etc. In fairness, the author never
that is and for the computer people, it does not actually quite says that. I think what she means
mean artificial intelligence in this context). We is that big farms are too big. We certainly cram
also see how difficult it can be for many farmers too many animals too close together in CAFOs
when it is time to ship the animals they cared for but, in the big picture, we don’t have too many
off to the slaughterhouse. cows or sheep.
There are other good points through the The author does say that the methane pro-
book. There is a good chapter on how USDA duced by ruminants is an environmental hazard
organic standards have subverted the original and even provides a reference. Well, I know
intention behind organic food. In some areas where that pseudo-science comes from (the same
it is not even possible to meet official organic end of the bovine that produces the methane) and
standards. One important feature of being com- I’m not impressed. This is where I must strongly
passionate is not wasting this real food. When disagree. I think Matt Rales did an excellent job
you buy it, eat it—all of it. Eat it with gratitude. in the Spring 2008 Wise Traditions of explaining
Don’t turn it into a science experiment that sits that methane is a non-issue. Joel Salatin has also
in the back of the refrigerator for years. The au- made the good point many times that decaying,
62 Wise Traditions SPRING 2010