What is the Social status of Cows and Sheep in Equestria?

[Buck Testa 5,505]

As for the non-pones, I’d say that the hoofed ones live in a kind of symbiosis with the ponies. They are not the brightest beans in the pot, or at least this is how I see them depicted in the show. However, one could easily look at this from a more sinister perspective, or one that is more pragmatic. Ponies have this nice 1984 thing going on with their habitat and all its animal residents, and everything is sunshine and rainbows as is befitting of a family friendly show. Attention to detail is brushed off as unnecessary since all we care about, or should care about, are pony characters. The other animals, albeit sentient, are there only to illustrate a familiar environment to young viewers and should be regarded as props

Exactly, that is the fun of this situation; Because of the lack of definition of their position in the society, because of their nature as props to establish the setting, all these different perspectives and answers are equally valid. They could be simple minded sentient beings that have found a sort of symbiotic relationship with the ponies for protection and food and they just don't register how they look down on them as a problem. At the same time the inference that they are living under an oppressive slave master relationship with the ponies and are used in the equines Products and Biproducts like its Abe's Odyssy all over again Fits just as well inside this empty space. What their social status is for one person for one person won't be the same for another because of their personal interpretations of the show and how certain ideas would just be unconscionable for them no matter how technically valid they could be. If the show wanted, they could have a scene where some Ponies come on the farm to march off some of AJ's cows that she sold for a profit. They could lead the cows away singing how "your misfortune is none of my own" and it wouldn't break continuity what so ever, and I love that.       

 

 

 

 

(and anyone who disagrees is apparently a stinky dirty overanalyzing poopoo head).  

 

This made me laugh way too hard. 

 

 

 

The sheep play the role of "slave labor" because that is what sheep do.1 Sheep are naturally herd animals, and in Equestria they contribute to the labor force by living out their natural roles in society. So fencing them all in one place is only to Applejack's convenience... We have have to assume that a large herd of sentient mammals could escape a small open enclosure if they wanted to, so their eagerness not to do so is then evidence that Equestria's system has all the social classes in Harmony. The same logic applies to the cows.  

 

Just as Starlight Glimmer confused and oppressed her followers by distracting them from their individual destinies, so a stock of "rebellious sheep" would throw the whole sheep identity out of harmony. But when all the workers of Equestria understand their innate ability, then the classes may be united for the sake of national interest.  

 

1. Even in real life credulous or mindless people are sometimes referred to as "sheep."

 

 

And these concepts would be entirely foreign to your typical red blooded American. If there is one thing that this show has in terms of its biggest Undertones, its that "Freedom" and "Harmony" are not necessarily one in the same 

They have cutie marks that pretty much define their place in the world

They have a race that is born or acceded into royalty 

The mane six follow the orders of a map without question

The flagrant regard for mind altering magic

and plenty of other things that would fit right in place with this idea, no matter how uncomfortable the implications of that is. Equestria is not a democracy, and this kind of hammers that point home. 

Edited February 21, 2016 by Buck Testa

[PacificGreen 1,163]

My guess was that, as also sentient beings who are capable of communicating on the same level as ponies, donkeys, griffons, buffalo, etc., they have equal rights in Equestria to ponies (i.e. they can vote if Equestria has some kind of democratic process, they get equal service in businesses), but they also provide their wool and milk as commodities for the other species. However, the shot in the Cutie Re-Mark alternate timeline of Fluttershy leading sheep, combined with the fact that they're often kept in pens or barns, makes me reconsider.

 

 

Even if its some kind of substitute meat, the very idea that they would eat these kinds of sandwiches denotes the idea that their is "real" versions of them being eaten that they are imitating. There is no need for "hay bacon" to exist for example if Real bacon wasn't something that showed up in Equestria. If "Bacon" wasn't ever an item on the menu, there would be nothing to name "Hay bacon" after. So they either do eat meat that comes from sentient creatures, which further shows how they are lower in social status than other ponies and aren't even considered worth their own life over a meal; Or they are aware of other races that eat these kinds of dishes and like it so much that they emulate it in their own diet with substitute products. Either way, there would certainly be money in the meat industry either be it for ponies or as an export, and they can certainly use those products in things they have in their daily lives like glue and what not.  

 

Now that you mention it, the implications of a meat industry in Equestria where cows and sheep, etc. are sentient are really horrifying. D:

Edited February 26, 2016 by PGNatsu

[Stardust 641]

Was thinking about the issue of cows (and other livestock) in the series decided to bump this.

On 2/16/2016 at 9:48 AM, Buck Testa said:

Applejack has brought Marshmallows on camping trips. Marshmallows are made of Gelatin, which is an animal Bi-product of Pigs....and Cows

 

Their version is probs made of vegetable or seaweed jelly. I doubt ponies eat meat based products. Maybe eggs and milk but meat nah. Theree have been cases where out of laziness they might have been seen eating ham sandwiches and stuff but pretty sure it would all be vegetarian at least even if not vegan. Made out of carrots I think, maybe some other non pony cultures eat meat but nah. And many times I have seen that ponies do really like their salads or snack foods like ice cream and jelly. I don't see them eating huge hunks of meat only products that might resemble meat.

One thing that bugs me is the yaks and buffalo are so similar to the cows yet they are treated so much better and have a independent existence. (On a seperate note would be cool if yaks met buffalo I don't think they have?)

Ya know when it's pets or the animals fluttershy looks after it's kinda different. But these cows talk and all ya know. In them's fightin herds it is cool we get to see a cow fightin and having like a proper meaningful role.

The cows seem content with their lives sort of sheltered infantile childlike and have to be cared for. Maybe they have lower intelligence. I guess they are domesticated. But then it means someone must have domesticated them. 

But then aren't ponies domesticated too or maybe not here. And donkeys. I mean it is likely the writers were just mirroring human life but ya know.

The cows have a degree of freedom wandering around but they are still stuck in sort of lacking accomodation with little space, Herded around, and exploited. Did they agree to this situation. And it is scary when you think of how milk is produced. They don't seem like slaves but at least peasants or a lower class, less developed and all. They probably aren't as sentient as ponies yet they still seem to have enough intelligence to talk like more than simple words even if mixed with moos. 

Whereas the Yaks are kinda depicted like primitives (they lack magic, infrastructure beyond basics) yet they are on equal footing with ponies, of course they are way more developed and capable but they are allowed to go to a school (school of friendship). We don't see cows doing this, but maybe it is because they are not capable. Is there any opposition in ponyville to the treatment of cows?

This video I found interesting

Also what are pigs around for if they aren't there for meat. And what happens to the male cows if they aren't eaten. 

I also think of that episode in bojack horseman where they inject the chicken people so they are edible.  I had this scary idea that maybe the animals are brought up in a suppressed way so they aren't allowed to like learn properly and it is sort of like a prison. 

lol I know it's complete nonsense but still just conspiracy ;3

I think though fluttershy wouldn't want to cage or fence up animals like she didnt do for her sanctuary. Yet these animals are sort of different to the animals in her sanctuary yet they seem to lack freedom to move and they can speak and some of them seem a lot closer to ponies in how they look. 

I also wonder what things the writers decided to leave out about the world and all.

Edited August 14, 2020 by flurry

[Splashee 28,566]

Same as with insects, treated without humane rights 

[Paleopony 703]

Making livestock talk was a bad idea.

[Evil Pink One 13,507]

Slaves............  .