How Many Animals Do You Save by Not Eating Meat for a Year?

For most people, the answer is none. The only scenario in which you might save animals is if you are killing and eating animals that no one else would, such as a person alone on an island. However, such exceptions are extremely rare and not representative of the broader population's impact.

Global Impact and Misconceptions

All the same animals will be slaughtered regardless of your personal dietary choices. This is a common misunderstanding. If everyone suddenly stopped eating meat, it would create a significant crisis because there would be no demand to support the livelihoods of livestock farmers. In such a scenario, the animals would either be euthanized or their numbers reduced drastically to levels that justifiable for sustainable farming practices. This could lead to mass extinction for several species, including cattle, pigs, sheep, and chickens.

It may not seem like a significant change, but when considering the global population, the collective effort of going plant-based can have a profound impact on animal welfare, health, and the environment.

The Average American’s Annual Consumption

The average American consumes an astounding 174 animals per year:

23 chickens one pig one cow one turkey some duck 12 fish 137 shellfish, mostly shrimp

Moreover, switching to a plant-based diet can have a meaningful effect on your health and the planet. This includes reducing your carbon footprint, water usage, and deforestation, while also promoting animal welfare.

Plant-Based Diets and Animal Welfare

It is often argued that by not eating meat, one is inadvertently causing more animal deaths due to the high number of insects and worms killed during plant cultivation. However, this perspective fails to consider the broader context. In a world where the demand for meat is significantly reduced, livestock numbers would drop, leading to a more sustainable and ethical food system. Farm animals are often raised in intensive conditions, and their welfare is a critical issue.

Furthermore, a plant-based diet can help reduce the demand for intensive farming practices and promote more sustainable agricultural methods. This can lead to a reduction in the overall number of animals raised and killed, contributing to a more humane and environmentally friendly food system.

Anecdotal Evidence

One anecdote highlights the impact of personal dietary choices. The author bought half a cow, which equates to approximately one-quarter of a cow. This experience provides a tangible understanding of the relative impact of meat consumption. If everyone were to adopt a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, the collective impact would be substantial, reducing the demand for meat and the resultant animal suffering.

Another perspective argues that we should save the cattle and eat beef as a means of supporting self-sustaining herds. While this approach may have some validity, it does not address the broader issue of sustainable agriculture and the ethical treatment of animals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while it may seem that going vegetarian or vegan saves no animals in individual cases, the collective impact on global animal welfare, health, and sustainability is significant. By reducing meat consumption, we can promote more ethical and sustainable practices, ultimately leading to a better world for both animals and humans.

Keywords: Vegan, Vegetarian, Meat Consumption