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Motivations for veganism
People may follow vegan diets for a range of reasons, mainly relating to personal health and opposition to animal cruelty.

Ethics
Ethical concerns about the treatment of animals are the most common motivation for vegetarianism generally, and are more likely to motivate vegans than other types of vegetarians. Veganism had its origin in such considerations, particularly those relating to the killing of animals by the dairy and egg industries. In egg production, most male chicks are culled because they do not lay eggs, and in the dairy industry, cows are made pregnant to induce lactation, are kept pregnant and lactating for three to seven years, and then are slaughtered. Female calves are separated from their mothers within 24 hours of birth, and fed milk replacer to retain the cow's milk for human consumption, while male calves are slaughtered at birth, sent for veal production, or reared for beef. Publications of the Vegetarian Society in the early 20th century debated the morality of culling male calves, and criticized the slaughter of dairy cows at the end of their productive lives. Writing in 1935, Muriel Davies expressed the opinion that "cattle must suffer abuse, captivity and ultimate slaughter so long as milk forms part of our food," and Donald Watson expressed a similar view of egg production in 1944, pointing out that "Hens cannot be produced without also producing similar numbers of cocks. In order to maintain the stability of any poultry business most of these cocks have to be killed off." Opposition to the killing of animals continues to motivate ethical vegans today. Some also go further in opposing not only killing, but also other forms of exploitation, and generally hold that the human pleasure derived from consuming animal products is a lesser consideration than the animal suffering involved in their creation. Moreover, ethical vegetarians typically share this opinion, and may support animal welfare by purchasing eggs or dairy products from farms where animals live in what they perceive to be less abusive conditions, while generally conceding that such improvements are insufficient. Vegans differ either in holding that animal abuse is fundamental to such industries, which, they say, can never be free from cruelty, or more modestly arguing that even if it might be possible to eliminate cruelty from animal enterprises, supporting industries which are presently abusive is nevertheless morally unjustifiable.