Originally Posted by bija

Ten years ago I was unemployed and a government scheme basically moved me into work in the animal slaughter industry.

It was an islamic kill slaughter house, I was next in line on the chain to the muslim slaughterman. He would slice the cows throat with a sharp knife. We were killing 300-500 cows perday and 3000 sheep. Each night I would take shower covered in blood, even my under-wear would be red.

I worked there for three months. After that I became vegetarian by the grace of devotees.

The buddhist or muslim can justify sanctified killing for various reasons. But from my experience no mass killing and suffering is justified to soothe the palate, when we can produce grains, vegetables, milk products etc with much less violence.

I have worked in various cow-industry over the years. The area I live is rural. Cows are beautiful and they are fully conscious. Milking cows is a pleasure, by showing them affection they remember you, each time they come around on the rotary machine. One jersey cow I used to 'pat' with affection always turned and greated me each day. Beautiful calm eyes!

The eyes of the animals in the slaughter house are maddened in fear!