Where Does Veal Come From?

Where does veal come from?

Veal is a nutritious and nutrient-rich meat that is produced from the male offspring of dairy cows. Dairy cows give birth once a year in order to continue producing milk. While female offspring serve as dairy replacement animals, male calves had little value to the dairy farmer prior to the establishment of milk-fed veal farming.

What does milk-fed mean?

Milk-fed, special-fed and formula-fed are names given to nutritionally balanced milk protein–based diets used in veal farming. These diets contain iron and 40 other essential nutrients including proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Conceptually, the milk-based diet is very similar to infant formula.

How are veal calves housed?

Milk-fed veal calves are housed in a well-lit barn, allowing family veal farmers to easily monitor calves for changes in health, behavior and eating patterns.

Are veal calves healthy?

Veal producers carefully watch each calf to be sure it is not suffering any clinical symptoms of anemia, such as weakness or loss of appetite. Calves must receive diets with iron to meet the animals' requirements for normal health and behavior. A calf that does not eat will not grow.

What percentage of veal is government inspected?

Federal regulation dictates that each and every food-producing animal marketed, including veal calves, be visually inspected for signs of disease and other food safety concerns. If visual inspection shows a potential problem, the meat is held and tested. If any of these tests show violation for residue, the meat never reaches the food supply.

How much fat does veal contain?

Veal is low in fat compared to other animal-protein sources. On average, a cooked, trimmed three-ounce serving of veal—about the size of a deck of cards—contains only 5.6 grams of fat.

What are the leanest cuts of veal?

The leanest cuts of veal are the leg cutlet, arm steak, sirloin steak, rib chop, loin chop, and top round. A three-ounce cooked, trimmed portion of these cuts provides 160 calories or less per serving.

Is veal expensive?

There are a variety of cuts available at a range of prices. Some less expensive cuts include ground veal and arm steaks. Milk-fed veal is priced higher per pound than some meats, but it has very little waste because of its low fat content. Therefore, a pound of veal can yield three or four servings.