Why are calves that are raised for veal never allowed to see the light of day?

Just a guess, but I suspect parading them in and out of the barn is not in the budget and burning calories is counterproductive to the growing process.

Did you know you can purchase free range veal? This meat comes from calves that have roamed outdoors within a designated area of the farm.

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Originally posted by coldfuse:
Just a guess, but I suspect parading them in and out of the barn is not in the budget and burning calories is counterproductive to the growing process.

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It also requires that valuable land be dedicated to that use. From the (factory) producer's point of view, the calf doesn't have to go outside, because it doesn't graze. If it did graze, it wouldn't be veal any more. Putting on weight faster is probably also part of the equation, though.

Alan Moore

http://www.britishmeat.com/veal.html

"The veal crate is a wooden restraining device that is the veal calf's permanent home. It is so small (22" x 54") that the calves cannot turn around or even lie down and stretch and is the ultimate in high-profit, confinement animal agriculture.(1) Designed to prevent movement (exercise), the crate does its job of atrophying the calves' muscles, thus producing tender "gourmet" veal."