Why is it ok to eat animals?

[agent_fish]

I was talking to a vegetarian girl who thinks it is wrong to eat animals. She's a pretty cool girl. She's probably one of the smartest girls I've ever met. That's why I question my arguments so much.

I hold the position that humans have no "implied social contract" with animals (as we do with other humans), therefore we are free to kill and eat them as we please. I could elaborate a bit, but I want to hear what you guys think about this.

I have to say, no matter what the results of this argument are, I still plan to eat meat. I just wonder what the arguments are for and against.

Thanks,
af