When did a self-earned 401k and a midlevel salary job become a golden parachute? Also the parachute wouldn't have heights, it would be an ivory tower from which I could jump. If you are going to insult me, then at least use proper metaphors.

There's also an acceptance in the veterinary profession, partly because of the economics that you describe, that 75% effectiveness at 25% of the cost is a good deal.

Yet for people medicine that's anathema.

Instead, we hide the cruel economic reality behind intermediaries (insurance companies, public hospitals, etc.) and then are shocked when it still leaks out.

No country without infinite money can afford to spend whatever it takes, on everyone, forever.

For livestock, yes. For pets, not so much. People spend stupid amounts of money on their pets and expect results.

> For cows its about 2 years for beef

Auguste Escoffier said that 2 years was much too young; you couldn't make good beef stock from such young bones. He said that you had to go to France to get 5-year-old stock bones, the British slaughtered them too young. This was in the early 20thC.

And what influence has the esteemed M. Escoffier's treatise had on the modern ranching industry?

What, he couldn't get an old dairy cow or something for his stock pot?

Dunno about cows (I have chickens), but the only place I've seen mature chickens for sale as meat is at the low prices, "ten pounds or more" meat specials, catering to ethnic populations local grocery chain and they cost more than tender fryers.

USDA graded beef is 30-42 months. 3 years +/- 0.5.

A note on terminology. Where I come from, at leat, a "cow" is a mature female breeding animal. We'd expect at least ten years out of such an animal, barring any unforeseen circumstances. A young, immature female would be referred to as a heifer. When the "cows" "calve" each year, obviously some of the calves are male and some are female. Most of the males will be castrated at a young age, for the purpose of preventing testosterone from negatively impacting the musculature in relation to meat quality. A castrated bull is referred to as a steer. A steer will almost certainly be raised for slaughter, and for that particular animal, an 18-24 month lifespan is a good estimate. A heifer may either be raised for slaughter, or may be added to the breeding herd. So their lifespan depends. Then there are bulls, who are males who are left intact. These are relatively rare, and their lifespans are shorter than a "cow," because their main purpose is breeding and they become less effective at that job over time. But longer than an animal that's sent to slaughter. Maybe 6 years or so. But the bulls probably don't affect the average too much.

Veterinary models also assume that the subject can't sue you.