It was this trait of their personalities that made them worthy in G-d's eyes of leading the Jewish people. His healing was also measure for measure. Therefore, for example, animals are overcrowded in order to economize on expenses, or hens' biological clocks are fooled by artificial lighting to make them lay more eggs. Clearly in such a setting one could not expect individual and personal care of animals. It is generally accepted in Judaism that the first ten generations of mankind were vegetarian and that only after the generation of the flood did G-d allow human beings to eat meat.
Meat also gives rise in human beings to a cruel and evil temperament.
Therefore you will find that the animals and birds of prey that eat meat are cruel and evil. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, did not tell Moses that He would give the Israelites meat, rather bread, which is a fitting food and essential for the human temperament. Rav Kook explains that the moral development of humanity must take place gradually. Moreover, he maintains that in days to come there will be no more animal sacrifice, only offerings from plants. The trouble entailed is negligible, considering that our moral view of ourselves is partly defined in terms of what we put on our plates and into our mouths.