We no longer need meat. Like many animals, such as elephants, hippopotami and the livestock that we use for food, our bodies can produce plenty of bulk, strength and energy entirely from plant sources. Even the largest of man's closest relatives, gorillas and orangutans, have plenty of body size, and its all strength, on a purely vegetarian diet. Those who do not eat meat are not at risk for contracting mad cow disease, transmitting hoof and mouth disease and have far lower likelihood of coming down with an e-coli infection. Eating meat harms the environment and is economically wasteful.
Meat is expensive to produce.
Production of meat in developing countries trying to emulate the American lifestyle is a major cause of deforestation as jungle habitats are replaced with large ranches to raise livestock. Production of meat also wastes precious water resources for watering and cleaning livestock animals and their equipment and facilities. Producing one pound of meat requires about 2,500 gallons of water . Those who eat meat require more than twelve times as much water as is needed for a pure vegetarian. Animal Cruelty Ethical concerns often evolve beyond solely human considerations, to an interest in respect for and concern about the feelings and interests of other sentient creatures whose brains are imbued with some extent of consciousness.