From commercials with cows grazing on open
green pastures to images of kind farmers gently milking happy cows, the dairy
industry spends millions of dollars on advertising to deceive the public. But
we’re not buying its lies.
green pastures to images of kind farmers gently milking happy cows, the dairy
industry spends millions of dollars on advertising to deceive the public. But
we’re not buying its lies.
There are lots of misconceptions about the
dairy industry, so we’re here with facts to help dispel the myths.
dairy industry, so we’re here with facts to help dispel the myths.
1. Cows
must give birth to produce milk.
must give birth to produce milk.
Yes, you read that right. It may seem obvious,
but many people have no idea that to produce milk, cows must be pregnant or
have just given birth. Like all mammals, cows lactate to nourish their babies.
but many people have no idea that to produce milk, cows must be pregnant or
have just given birth. Like all mammals, cows lactate to nourish their babies.
2. Calves
are stolen from their mothers.
are stolen from their mothers.
Just hours after they are born, calves are taken from their mothers. Understandably, this forced separation is traumatic,
and the mothers bellow for hours or days, pacing and searching for their stolen
babies. This heartbreak happens at every dairy farm.
and the mothers bellow for hours or days, pacing and searching for their stolen
babies. This heartbreak happens at every dairy farm.
Case in point: In 2013, locals in Newbury,
Massachusetts, called the police because of crying they’d heard from a nearby dairy farm.
Upon investigation, authorities discovered that the cries had come from
mourning mothers whose newborns had been ripped away.
Massachusetts, called the police because of crying they’d heard from a nearby dairy farm.
Upon investigation, authorities discovered that the cries had come from
mourning mothers whose newborns had been ripped away.
3. Cows
are impregnated over and over.
are impregnated over and over.
At factory farms, cows are forcibly impregnated, a highly invasive and stressful
procedure that is repeated about every 12 months. Cows used for dairy are kept
in a constant cycle of pregnancy, birth, and lactation.
procedure that is repeated about every 12 months. Cows used for dairy are kept
in a constant cycle of pregnancy, birth, and lactation.
Studies prove that the mother-child bond is
not exclusive to humans. Imagine the anguish and stress mother cows
endure—giving birth again and again only to have their babies torn away.
not exclusive to humans. Imagine the anguish and stress mother cows
endure—giving birth again and again only to have their babies torn away.
4. Male
calves are often killed for veal.
calves are often killed for veal.
Since male calves don’t produce milk, they are
useless to the dairy industry and often sold for veal production. Veal is a direct byproduct of
the dairy industry.
useless to the dairy industry and often sold for veal production. Veal is a direct byproduct of
the dairy industry.
5.
Female calves are kept to continue the cycle.
Female calves are kept to continue the cycle.
Female calves are raised as “replacements. For
cows in the dairy industry, the cycle of abuse lasts about five years until
they are considered “spent and sent to slaughter.
cows in the dairy industry, the cycle of abuse lasts about five years until
they are considered “spent and sent to slaughter.
6. “Spent
cows become hamburger meat.
cows become hamburger meat.
What happens when cows can no longer produce
enough milk? They’re brutally killed.
enough milk? They’re brutally killed.
No milk means no money for farmers. So after
having baby after baby stolen from them, and at just a fraction of their
natural lifespan—which could be as long as 25 years—cows are callously sent to the slaughterhouse and violently killed,
mostly for ground beef. Yes, inside nearly every hamburger are the remains of cows from America’s dairies.
having baby after baby stolen from them, and at just a fraction of their
natural lifespan—which could be as long as 25 years—cows are callously sent to the slaughterhouse and violently killed,
mostly for ground beef. Yes, inside nearly every hamburger are the remains of cows from America’s dairies.
7.
Cows’ horns are burned or sawed off.
Cows’ horns are burned or sawed off.
At dairy factory farms, workers burn or saw off cows’ horns without
anesthetics. This painful and grisly practice, which often leads to infection,
is considered standard.
anesthetics. This painful and grisly practice, which often leads to infection,
is considered standard.
8.
Cows’ hair is burned off with torches.
Cows’ hair is burned off with torches.
Every four to five weeks, dairy farmers use a propane
torch to singe the hair around cows’ sensitive udders.
torch to singe the hair around cows’ sensitive udders.
9.
Calves’ tails are cut off.
Calves’ tails are cut off.
This involves cutting through sensitive skin,
nerves, and bones without any painkillers. Animal welfare experts condemn this
unnecessary and inhumane practice.
nerves, and bones without any painkillers. Animal welfare experts condemn this
unnecessary and inhumane practice.
10.
Cows suffer painful infections.
Cows suffer painful infections.
Through genetic manipulation and drugs, cows
produce abnormally large amounts of milk. This unnatural production and the
physical damage caused by milking equipment often lead to mastitis, a painful
udder infection.
produce abnormally large amounts of milk. This unnatural production and the
physical damage caused by milking equipment often lead to mastitis, a painful
udder infection.
11.
There is pus in the milk.
There is pus in the milk.
Mastitis generates pus, which gets into the
milk. The USDA reports that one in six cows suffers
mastitis, and this infection is responsible for one in six deaths at dairy
factory farms.
milk. The USDA reports that one in six cows suffers
mastitis, and this infection is responsible for one in six deaths at dairy
factory farms.
Because mastitis is so prevalent, the U.S.
dairy industry demands that American milk retain more pus-causing cells than that
of any other country—a million cells per spoonful. So gross!
dairy industry demands that American milk retain more pus-causing cells than that
of any other country—a million cells per spoonful. So gross!
12.
Dairy farming is destroying the environment.
Dairy farming is destroying the environment.
The U.S. dairy industry has a record of
egregious water pollution. In fact, animal excrement and other agricultural
runoff from large-scale farms have polluted nearly one-third of rivers in the
U.S.
egregious water pollution. In fact, animal excrement and other agricultural
runoff from large-scale farms have polluted nearly one-third of rivers in the
U.S.
13.
Dairy farming wastes a lot of water.
Dairy farming wastes a lot of water.
Dairy production is incredibly water-intensive.
According to Mother Jones,
it takes 30 gallons of water to make one glass of milk, 50 gallons to make two
slices of cheese, and a whopping 109 gallons to make one stick of butter.
According to Mother Jones,
it takes 30 gallons of water to make one glass of milk, 50 gallons to make two
slices of cheese, and a whopping 109 gallons to make one stick of butter.
14. The
dairy industry exploits farm workers.
dairy industry exploits farm workers.
A report compiled by the Workers’
Center of Central New York and the Worker Justice Center of New York reveals that
93 percent of New York dairy farm workers are undocumented immigrants, who are easily exploited.
Shockingly, two-thirds of dairy workers in New York have experienced one or
more injuries on the job, with 68 percent of these injuries serious enough to
require medical attention.
Center of Central New York and the Worker Justice Center of New York reveals that
93 percent of New York dairy farm workers are undocumented immigrants, who are easily exploited.
Shockingly, two-thirds of dairy workers in New York have experienced one or
more injuries on the job, with 68 percent of these injuries serious enough to
require medical attention.
—
Fortunately, consumption of cow’s milk in the
U.S. has fallen 40 percent since 1970, while sales of
dairy-free milk alternatives have soared by 30 percent since 2011. In fact, a
recent survey reveals that half of U.S. dairy consumers also use vegan dairy
alternatives.
U.S. has fallen 40 percent since 1970, while sales of
dairy-free milk alternatives have soared by 30 percent since 2011. In fact, a
recent survey reveals that half of U.S. dairy consumers also use vegan dairy
alternatives.
You can help protect cows, workers, the environment, and your health by withdrawing your financial support
from this gruesome industry. Join the millions of people who are ditching dairy
and adopting a compassionate vegan diet. Click here
to get started!
from this gruesome industry. Join the millions of people who are ditching dairy
and adopting a compassionate vegan diet. Click here
to get started!
For a list of dairy alternatives, click here.
