As homo sapien there is a focus on thinking as a major resource, naturally inclined to increasing consumption comfort and security. It is not the only intelligent thinking, there is other basic thinking. like AI.

The use of intelligence can do no good, but from it's use an awareness of good can arise. Such an awareness is not available to every homo sapien given their varying abilities of youth, injury and aged related decay, so not much chance of other animals being conscious of that elusive entity termed good.

In the material world where 'intelligent' animals reign it is known that all food consumption starts as vegetation for animals. The few animals that can only sustain themselves by eating other animals are cats, big and small. Cats do not have the metabolic ability to produce an amino acid called taurine. In other animals this is not essential and hence can avoid eating other animals if there is sufficient vegetation available.

So given the application of intelligence then it is of some concern that homo sapiens in the rich societies, those with ample food, chose to consume animals, and it's not just that it is unethical in the use of land resources.

The query that arises is the how an individual stops using their intelligence at an ethical level that suits their taste. Such an action goes to show that a person who touts ethics only does it to control other people to free up the availability of the resources they want as an individual. Whatever the excuse for eating animals,
a) Health, really. Cows and elephant are pretty healthy on grass and leaves
b) I have the right, You mean you have the power to abuse those weaker than you
c) They are dumb, You have the power to abuse those more stupid that you
d) God said I could/should do it. OK ISIS
e) I live on an ice pack and there are only fish and seal. OK polar bear, leave you to it.
f) I am stupid, not that stupid
g) I like the taste, well now we have it. Ethics are a joke

But just because ethics are a joke does that mean there is no good and I do mean good not god. After all there is infinity - an in definable number, so though absolutes are non relativistic they are real. Good is real whilst god exists in many forms, do not mistake god as Good, god is your own personal ethics and any compromises you make with other consumers.

Enjoy your heat whilst your heart beats and embrace the cold as you grow old.