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Under 12 months is veal, so you were correct that most don’t end up as veal.

But they count as calves until adulthood, which is nearer age 4. They’re normally killed for meat at about 18 months or six in human years. They do continue to put on weight into adulthood, but less rapidly than in the first 18 months, so you get a better return on investment by killing them while they’re still calves, because you’ve saved half your costs but got 3/4 of the weight in meat, and the meat is more tender and marketable.

So not quite full weight, and definitely still killed as a calf, not as an adult.

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Cypher@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

“Calf” is the term used from birth to weaning, when it becomes known as a weaner or weaner calf, though in some areas the term “calf” may be used until the animal is a yearling.

A 3 year old cow is not a calf.

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- davidagain@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  If you like, but my point is that it’s certainly not an adult. Male calves are almost all killed before adulthood.
  
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  - Cypher@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Cows are fully mature at around 24 months old, depending on breed.
    
    They do not have an extended developmental period like humans so the comparison to a 6 year old human based on maximum lifespan is fallacious.
    
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    davidagain@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Even if your numbers were correct, 18 months, the typical slaughter age of cattle, is before adulthood, and a long way before the natural lifespan of between 15-20 years. Male cows are killed young for meat. Female cows are killed once they’re less use for milk.
    
    It shouldn’t be surprising to you. It’s just economics. It makes no financial sense to do otherwise.
    
    I don’t see any point in pretending otherwise and I don’t know why you want to.
    
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commie@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
almost all beef is slaughtered around 18 months, make it female. that’s full weight.

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- davidagain@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  It’s slaughter weight, not full weight. Lots of female cows are kept alive for another few years for milk and calving.
  
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  - commie@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    it seems you’re splitting hairs
    
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    davidagain@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Says the person who has been splitting hairs for nearly 24 hours. For reference, here is the original interaction:
    
    At least 50% of them are killed - very, very few males make it to adulthood.
    
    this is incorrect
    
    They’re slaughtered at 18 months, and that’s before adulthood.
    
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