The self-elevation of humans above other animals has largely emerged from religious ideas about creation, because we see ourselves as exempt from many of the rules which govern the animal kingdom.
I believe that there is very little to distinguish humanity from any other species on this planet; we kill, we die, we eat, we starve, we fight over territory, so on and so forth. However, mankind has set itself apart largely through the development of language and the ability to learn from the mistakes of others, not just our own.
So I have no qualms about eating meat, or wearing fur or leather, I don't care that many of the animals that we keep in captivity are mistreated, and I certainly don't mind the odd spot of violence; in fact, I'm quite partial.
I can understand why someone who doesn't share my faintly malevolent attitude might think that the exploitation of animals is distasteful, but the way in which religious morality has infiltrated even our diets is just ridiculous. Ethics are an illusion used to make stupid people fall in line, the truth is that the laws made by our ancestors, very early concepts about not killing and keeping your hands to yourself, exist because they are a good way of running a successful society. We don't need to be told that murder is bad, because anyone with a brain-stem can see that if everyone just killed whoever they wanted it'd happen to them soon enough. So, by the same principle, eating meat that has been reared specially for consumption can not been considered a bad thing, it supports farmers, packers, haulage companies, shops, countless humans have their lives improved by the livestock and the people eating it. Yes, some cows die in the process. Yes, some farms harm their livestock. But if looked at from a rational, utilitarian perspective, the benefits of the meat and hide industries far outweigh costs.
If you don't want to hurt the poor cows then that's fine, just leave it to the rest of us. Veganism can continue to provide people with a sense of superiority for as long as we have mouths to feed. The problem, as with anything, is the minority who try to force their views on others. Stop doing that and no-one will have a problem with you. Going to a dinner party and asking 'Has the meat been sourced locally? Is it free-range? Have the chickens been provided with silk pillows on which to lay their eggs?' is just asking for trouble.