According to a survey
by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, 7 percent of American adults believe
that chocolate milk comes from brown cows.
Around 1,000 American adults were asked where chocolate milk
came from, and 48 percent of them admitted to not being sure. Seriously. This
isn’t a joke. We swear.
For the record, chocolate milk is just regular milk mixed
with chocolate syrup or cocoa powder.
But if so many American adults are in the dark about where
their chocolate milk comes from, it should come as no surprise that many also
don’t know that cows have to be pregnant or have just given birth to produce
milk. Like all mammals, cows lactate for their babies.
Americans are far removed from where their food comes from.
Many of us don’t have a factory farm anywhere near our home. So we’re going to
open the doors and give you a glimpse into life for cows exploited for dairy.
First off, cows on dairies endure artificial insemination, a
highly invasive and stressful procedure. After carrying their babies for nine
months—just like humans—mother cows give birth.
This is when the real tragedy begins.
Newborn calves are
taken away from their mothers within hours of birth. After being forcibly
separated from their calves, cows often bellow for hours or even days, pacing
and searching for them.
Male calves are killed for veal, and females are raised to
produce more milk. The cycle of abuse for females lasts about five years until
they are considered “spent and sent to slaughter.
Watch.
Horrifying, right?
Remember, knowledge is power. Join the millions taking a
stand against this cruel industry by switching to a compassionate vegan diet.
Click here for delicious vegan recipes,
meal ideas, and tips on making the switch.