“Save a cow—eat a vegetarian”

“Save a cow—eat a vegetarian” is a jocular saying that’s been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, bumper stickers and posters. The saying is a meat eater’s answer to the vegetarian/vegan argument that a meatless diet helps to save a cow. “Save a Cow, Eat a Vegetarian” has been cited in print since at least 1995 and “save a cow…eat a vegan” since at least 1997.
 
Other variations include “save a cow…eat a pizza” (cited in print in 1985) and “save a cow, eat a cowboy cookie” (cited in print in 2010).
 
 
30 January 1985, The Morning Union (Springfield, MA), pg. 29, col. 4 ad:
Save a Cow…
Eat a Pizza!
(Papa Gino’s—ed.)
 
26 August 1995, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Canine-Like Steer Wins Top Honors at Fair” by Eric Wahlgren, Metro, pg. 2:
And several spectators wore T-Shirts that read “Save a Cow, Eat a Vegetarian.”
   
Google Groups: alt.gothic
Individuation
3/6/97
(...)
Eileen (save a cow…eat a vegan)
 
Google Books
27 May 1997, PC Magazine, pg. 316:
Save a Cow, Eat a Lawyer
 
Google Groups: alt.tastless.jokes
Suzie Burke
3/18/99
My favorite bumper sticker
“save a cow, eat a vegetarian”
   
Metro Santa Cruz (CA)
From the June 9-16, 2004 issue of Metro Santa Cruz.
City Gal, Country Gal
My friends and I arrived in our city car, tattooed with bumper stickers but otherwise shiny clean
By Novella Carpenter
(...)
There were some good bumper stickers on these rigs. My favorite was “Save a Cow, Eat a Vegetarian.”
 
Google Books
What on Earth Have I Done?:
Stories, Observations, and Affirmations
By Robert Fulghum
New York, NY: St. martin’s Press
2007
Pg. 117:
Someone put an “EAT BEEF AND DIE” bumper sticker on my pickup truck. I covered it up with another sticker that says, “SAVE A COW, EAT A VEGETARIAN.”
   
Confections of a Serial Baker
save a cow, eat a cowboy cookie
by SHARON on AUGUST 4, 2010
i know it would appear that i am ripping off the big & rich song “save a horse, ride a cowboy”, but in actuality, i really am asking that you skip the burger and eat these cookies. that isn’t just because i am vegetarian, but mainly based on how much my co-workers absolutely loved these!