South London Beers: Reboot - Last Thursday of the Month at The Prince Regent, Herne Hill, SE24

It's interesting to look at the language as the vegans will tell you that any relationship we have with a food animal is abusive or exploitative- emotive words that have an immediate impact.

However the situation is similar to that of a Maid of All work- a Victorian position where the salary was often "All found", meaning bed, board and living expenses such as clothing and so forth.

i.e. it is not exploitation as the animal is compensated- with it's life, board, vetinary attention and so forth, and most crucially the ability to have progeny that continue it's line into the future.

That it is slaughtered and eaten at a point in it's life is part of the implicit contract between farmer and animal, part of the terms of payment if you will for the life that it has led up until that point.

I think that you could make a very strong argument for it being immoral not to eat an animal that had been raised and slaughtered specifically for food.

There are so many interesting points in this that it'll take me a while to compose a reply, but be afraid, be very afraid, it's coming. :)