I judge the value of an animal's life...

[Rizen]

Based primarily on two factors: are they causing a problem and how intelligent they are. So, based on intelligence, for example killing a dog is worse than killing a sheep, which is worse than killing a bug. Bugs are so trivial and plentiful who cares if you kill them? But when animals start to get as smart as sheep, I think it's wrong to kill them without purpose. And eating them is a fine purpose but I do believe in humane treatment of livestock. I think that at a certain point of intelligence it becomes wrong to kill animals unless they are causing serious problems for example, apes, dolphins, parrots, elephants, octopuses... any of these can be compared to a human toddler. So, I think it's fine to kill and eat a tuna but not a dolphin. It's fine to eat a chicken but not a parrot or a crow, if that makes sense. Some animals literally exist in nature as stupid food for other animals. But then I was looking up the smartest animals in the world: The 10 Smartest Animals in the World - Updated 2024 Rankings - A-Z Animals 

and a big exception is rats. Rats are incredibly smart but genuine vermin, which spread disease. You pretty much have to kill them. But then staring me in the face were pigs. I've been thinking a lot since that veganism thread became a discussion of food ethics, am I wrong to kill pigs? Pigs are so smart, eating them is like eating a dog or cat, which I wouldn't do. I think I might stop eating pork. Should pigs be pets, not food?

There are of course other external factors, like if an animal is endangered or not. And I think it's wrong to eat unmatured animals like veal. Any of the animals on this list is smarter than your average republican btw.

Thoughts?

[Thumpalumpacus]

My standard is -- are you touching me without my permission, and at what risk? No matter what phyla you are in, if you are getting onto my body and presenting a risk, your life may well be forfeit.

I haven't et much pork any more anyway, even before thinking about how smart pigs are. But if a pig threatened me somehow, I'd eat me some poke chops for dinner. Don't want to waste the meat, after all.

[SYZ]

Degrees of animal sentience?  How is it measured?

Can we measure it with any precision?  Or do we too often use "cuteness"
as one of our determining parameters—which has to be solely subjective.

Downunder, if we happen to find a dead kangaroo on a country roadside, we
check her pouch for a live joey, and if she had one, we take it to an animal
refuge to look after it.  On the other hand, we (cull) shoot thousands of these
same mature roos each and every year for human consumption.

So we go all out to save any endangered babies of this species, but at the
same time we have no compunction for killing and eating their parents.

 —How does this work?   

[Rhythmcs]

Yes, we can measure sentience, and yes we often just use cuteness. Sounds like the kind thing to do, to me, re the joey. Besides, if you don't take care of the juveniles you wont have any adults to eat.

[Rhythmcs]

Thoughts?

 I thought about bees, smart dumb animals, and the things that make pigs excellent food and terrible pets.  

I think every person should stop eating anything they think they should stop eating.  Being consistent with ones internal values doesn't depend on those values being accurately set in every excruciating detail.

[Minimalist]

I think every person should stop eating anything they think they should stop eating.

Exactly how I feel about liver and onions.

[Dexta]

I bought a large joint of lamb for £10, reduced from £18. We're having it for dinner in an hour or so with roast potatoes, fresh mint sauce etc. Priceless. I know this comment probably doesn't help much...

[Rizen]

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others"
I missed a great opportunity to say that in the OP.

My standard is -- are you touching me without my permission, and at what risk? No matter what phyla you are in, if you are getting onto my body and presenting a risk, your life may well be forfeit.

I haven't et much pork any more anyway, even before thinking about  how smart pigs are. But if a pig threatened me somehow, I'd eat me some poke chops for dinner. Don't want to waste the meat, after all.

That's what I mean when I say if the animal is causing problems.

Degrees of animal sentience?  How is it measured?

Can we measure it with any precision?  Or do we too often use "cuteness"
as one of our determining parameters—which has to be solely subjective.

Downunder, if we happen to find a dead kangaroo on a country roadside, we
check her pouch for a live joey, and if she had one, we take it to an animal
refuge to look after it.  On the other hand, we (cull) shoot thousands of these
same mature roos each and every year for human consumption.

So we go all out to save any endangered babies of this species, but at the
same time we have no compunction for killing and eating their parents.

 —How does this work?   

What do kangaroos taste like?