I see no reason why it wouldn't tongue emoticon yet knowing a
  cow has identity doesn't stop me from eating one. I don't even
  feel a need for an excuse. "Hi cow, you may wonder if the corn
  from chute 3 is better than the corn from chute 2, but I'm
  hungry and it's time for you to go". Such is how it is and I'm
  ok with that. I'd actually find vegetable consiousness
  fascinating (should it exist, and if it does in some form, I
  would imagine it being similar to bacterial in a social moreso
  than an individual way).

  Then again, it may not. I honestly don't know smile emoticon