Ovo Vegetarians

The vegetarians, who exclude meat and dairy products from their diets but include eggs, are known as ovo vegetarians. They don’t believe that the inclusion of eggs conflicts with their vegetarian diet. For them, eggs are not living things, but they are careful to use those produced on free range poultry farms, without cruelty to hens,.

Ovo Vegetarians And Free Range Eggs

Ovo vegetarians purchase "free range" eggs, and are opposed to battery hen egg production, due to their concern for the well being of the birds. There are even vegetarians who rear a few hens of their own, to make sure that they are properly looked after, which in turn ensures good quality eggs.

Some ovo vegetarians are of the opinion that a strict vegan approach is restrictive, and prevents them from obtaining the good source of protein that eggs can supply in the absence of meat. Vegans don't agree as they emphasize the plight of many hens that are concentrated in batteries, and would probably argue that some other conditions are not truly free range, as the birds are packed into sheds, and may never see the light of day.

Vegans also consider that fertile eggs are part of the free-range egg production system. They suggest that a high proportion hatch into male chicks to be either killed at birth, or grown on to be slaughtered when a few weeks old for table purposes. Ovo vegetarians would be careful to purchase eggs from sources where there was a high degree of care attaching to the birds, but it is an area that can become disputatious.

Eggs And Cholesterol

Some vegetarians exclude eggs from their diets, for other reasons. Eggs are known to be high in cholesterol that has been widely linked to heart disease. Even non-vegetarians may limit the eggs they consume in the interests of remaining healthy.
It can be a bit of a dilemma, as there are many people, vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, who are totally opposed to factory farming, including battery egg production.

By and large, ovo vegetarians are caring people who make sure that the eggs they consume are produced without cruelty to hens. Vegans go the whole way and exclude eggs completely. There are no hard and fast rules and it must be a matter of individual choice. There are undoubtedly millions of hens that have a pretty awful existence, and not quite so many who are treated well. If those who consume eggs choose wisely, there is some hope that the overall situation will improve.