The animal you see in the video below is not a mythical creature. It might surprise you, but it is a real bull that exists on some farms. It is called a Belgian Blue bull.
Belgian Blue cattle are known for their huge size and extremely muscled frame.
Farmers have used selective breeding over many generations to keep a naturally occurring gene mutation that gives the animals this stature.
Double Muscling
The reason they are so big is a mutation they carry, known as “double muscling.” It affects the gene for myostatin, a protein that normally limits muscle growth. Breeders in the beef industry selected animals that carry this mutation because their cattle grow larger, which means more lean meat.
Critics say this is an example of an industry that puts quantity ahead of quality, and that animal welfare and ethics have taken a back seat as a result.
Animal welfare organizations see double muscling as a serious welfare problem. The animals reach an enormous size, which can make their lives uncomfortable. Moreover, these cows often have very difficult pregnancies, so many of them have to undergo C-sections.
Also, their calves can have enlarged tongues or other birth defects that make it hard for them to nurse. Further problems reported in the breed include bone, joint, and cardio-respiratory issues, and in some cases a shorter life.
Belgian Blue cattle are not the only animals affected by intensive farming. According to animal welfare groups, cattle on some intensive farms receive substances that increase their growth and are kept in poor living conditions. The same groups also criticize the routine use of antibiotics on some farms, instead of individual veterinary care for sick animals.
In this way, critics say, some farms simply keep their cattle going long enough to reach the slaughterhouse.
Cattle Need Your Help
You don’t have to turn a blind eye to the problems in parts of today’s meat industry just because they are unpleasant to see or hear about. Instead, you can make informed choices about what you support.
Try to find out how the farms you buy from raise their animals, including their use of antibiotics and their breeding practices, and choose products from farms with high animal welfare standards.
Source Science Direct | Peta | The Sun; Image Source Pinterest