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Variation Time

Difference between individual timers and the master timer. [66] [ Pigeon ]

Veal Crate

A small three sided structure designed to hold a newborn cow; it is designed to restrict movement as much as possible. If the infant cow cannot move then his muscle will not develop as would naturally be the case. Thus the young cow remains chained in the veal crate for his entire life in order for his flesh to stay soft and desirable. Veal calves are also deprived of iron in their diet so that their flesh will become a lighter color (white veal). These calves sometimes resort to consuming urine in order to obtain what little iron is present in their bodily waste. [ Factory Farming ]

Vegan

This is a vegetarian who consumes no food which contains products derived from animals. [14] Vegans object to eating animal products based on one or more concerns including individual health, environmental issues, or moral concerns. A Vegan diet excludes the use of any food containing animal derived produce no matter how insignificant an amount used in its manufacture. The lifestyle for the majority of Vegans excludes the use of non-edible animal products as well, such as leather, wool, and down. [15] [ Animal Rights ]

Vegan Police

Normally a derogatory term, it refers to certain individuals who specify what is vegan based on their preferences and beliefs. Essentially, what they believe becomes the standard for calling oneself vegan. Some go so far as to say that someone is not a vegan if they use a certain product. They may also be identified as hardcore vegans, though not always so. [ Animal Rights ]

Vegism

This is a generic term to lump vegetarianism and veganism together. This is not to say each is the same but I often find myself using them in the same sentence towards the same purpose. Accordingly, I thought this term was the appropriate word to conjure up that would encompass both under the broadest of lexicon umbrellas. For instance, instead of saying “the vegetarian and vegan lifestyles” one could say “the vegist lifestyle” or a “lifestyle of vegism.” [ Animal Rights ]

Velvet

When deer begin to grow antlers in the spring the new growths are sheathed in skin covered with small hairs which feel similar to velvet, hence the name. This velvet is packed with blood vessels that continually feed the antlers nutrients needed to grow. In about four months the antlers have ceased growing and begin to harden. At this point deer will find the velvet to be an irritation and start to remove it by rubbing their antlers on any structure they find conducive to this purpose. Some deer have been observed to remove all of their velvet within ten minutes while others can be seen carrying the remnants of the covering for weeks. [2] [ Hunting ]

Vivisection

Just as dissection is to cut or operate on a deceased animal, vivisection is to cut or operate on a living animal. Vivisection is often used as an umbrella term to include all types of experimentation on animals. It is interesting to note that the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines vivisection broadly as “animal experimentation,” “especially if considered to cause distress to the subject.” [51] [ Experimentation ]

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Posted/Updated: 7/09/04