When a cow is led to the slaughterhouse to be murdered, he or she fights and exhibits blatant fear. It is incorrect to assume that all animals other than humans are unworthy to receive the same right of life we grant humans solely on the basis of intelligence. For example, this philosophy would not give rights to children, the very old, or the mentally disabled. The only thing holding us back from ascribing rights to nonhumans is a tradition of brutality against nonhumans. We must dissemble this tradition.
Many people are unfamiliar with the conditions of farm animals.
Laying hens spend their entire lives in cages so small that they cannot even spread their wings. Since they do not have a solid floor to stand on, many times their feet will begin to grow around the wire cages. Veal calves spend 16 weeks of severe brutality and confinement before being murdered. We must react to these injustices. One of the easiest thing one can do is adopt a vegetarian diet.