Dairy is scary. The public are waking up to the darkest part of farming

[Varun]

Photographs of industrial rows of cramped pens, each imprisoning a solitary calf, will shock those who still believe in the fairytale of the pastoral dairy farm, where blushing maidens milk smiling cows. Welfare legislation says that calves should only be held in solitary pens until they are eight weeks old, but Animal Equality claims that the battery calves it photographed at Grange Dairy in Dorset are up to six months old – too large for their hutches– and say that some have grazes on their backs. But trading standard officers say there is no evidence of any breach of animal welfare requirements. Marks & Spencer, which sells milk from the farm, said it was “disappointed” to see the report, but it has refused to drop the supplier.

Upsetting as the story is, what happens elsewhere in the dairy industry amounts to systematic cruelty. In reality, the daily practices of most dairy farms are more distressing than those of meat production. A mother cow only produces milk when she gets pregnant. So, starting from the age of 15 months, she will usually be artificially inseminated. Farmers mechanically draw semen from a bull, and then force the female cow into a narrow trap, known as a “cattle crush”, where they will brutally impregnate her.

When she gives birth, her calf will typically be removed within 36 hours, so the farmers can steal and sell you the milk that is meant for her baby. Wildlife experts say that a strong bond between cow and calf is formed quickly after birth. Following that callous separation, the mother will bellow and scream for days, wondering where her baby is. The answer depends on the gender of the calf. If male, he will probably either be shot and tossed into a bin, or sold to be raised for veal, which delays his death by just a matter of months. But if the calf is female, she will usually be prepared for her own entry into dairy production, where she will face the same cycle of hell that her mother is trapped in: forced impregnation, the theft of her baby, and a return to the cattle crush two or three months later.

For at least six months of the year, she will often be confined inside dark sheds. But a growing number of dairy farms in Britain use a “zero-grazing system” in which cows spend their entire lives indoors, in increasingly intensive structures.

A dairy cow is often pumped with antibiotics and hormones so she produces an unnatural amount of milk. Under normal circumstances, she would generally only have a maximum of two litres of milk in her udder at any one time, but rapacious farmers may force her to carry 20 litres or more. Her udder becomes so heavy that it makes her lame and she often develops an agonising infection called mastitis. The strain this puts on her body means she is exhausted by the age of five. Soon, her milk yield will no longer be considered profitable. Or she might simply collapse under the agony of it all. Either way, she will be dragged off by a tractor, squeezed into a cramped truck, and driven to the slaughterhouse, to be killed and turned into burgers or baby food. Her throat slit after five sad and torturous years – under natural circumstances she could have lived to 25.

Dairy is proving to be a vulnerable spot for the entire slaughter racket. The public is steadily waking up to the fact that the reality of milk production is not a matter of trivial imperfections, of concern only to idealist vegans, but in fact the most dark and wicked part of all farming. And delicious, non-dairy milk, cheese and dessert alternatives are now widely available, so as people learn the truth it is easy for them to ditch dairy for good. In January, Sainsbury’s reported that sales of its new own-brand vegan cheeses were 300% greater than it had anticipated.

Smaller businesses are also evolving. The Fields Beneath cafe in north London abruptly stopped offering cow’s milk last week, replacing it with vegan alternatives like oat, almond and soy milk. It posted a notice in its window, explaining that it took the move after watching the powerful five-minute YouTube video entitled Dairy Is Scary. The notice added: “We didn’t think it was either.” And Ice Shack, an ice-cream and dessert parlour in Manchester, is transforming into a fully vegan business next week.

The industry is starting to panic. David Dobbin, chairman of Dairy UK, fears a “demographic time bomb” as young people increasingly shun milk. Only 10 years ago, there were about 21,000 dairy farms in England, Scotland and Wales. Industry analysts believe there will be fewer than 5,000 left by 2026. The National Farmers Union’s dairy spokesman Michael Oakes said on Monday that the message of anti-dairy campaigners is “not going away”. He called for “positive promotion” of the industry.

They’ll have their work cut out. Even the planet’s most shameless and gifted spin doctors would find it hard to put a positive angle on the brutal reality of most dairy farms.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/comment...scary-public-farming-calves-pens-alternatives

 

[Romali_rotti]

It is more brutal than the slaughter houses the dairy industry. I dont eat any red meat or milk products barring Whey protein and chocolates , so I am bit of a hypocrite here..........

 

[JaDed]

Everyday the case to become a Vegan becomes stronger sadly I'm not able to give up on Dairy and in my heart believe that the Dairy Industry better in India,coz see so many cows going out on their own so hoping those are the ones i get milk from.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

During childhood @ our granny's place, we used to get milk from neighbors who had cattle. It was fresh and everything was prepared out of it (coffee, tea, curd, chaach, dahi, ghee, kova, et al.)

When the milking was less people used to skip chai or have less curd for a day or two, cattle were never forced. It was a perfect balance of nature and human needs

 

[MenInG]

It is more brutal than the slaughter houses the dairy industry. I dont eat any red meat or milk products barring Whey protein and chocolates , so I am bit of a hypocrite here..........

dont blame you after reading above

 

[JaDed]

During childhood @ our granny's place, we used to get milk from neighbors who had cattle. It was fresh and everything was prepared out of it (coffee, tea, curd, chaach, dahi, ghee, kova, et al.)

When the milking was less people used to skip chai or have less curd for a day or two, cattle were never forced. It was a perfect balance of nature and human needs

Some village in Maharashtra?

 

[troodon]

Get organic milk from whole food stores if available. It is a bit expensive though.

There is difference in taste of organic milk and regular milk. Regular milk tastes weird now to me.

Now I cannot drink milk if it is not organic.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Some village in Maharashtra?

Yes near Pune. Now it's part of the city.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Absolutely sickening.

We really need regulations for all slaughter houses and dairy farming centres. Capitalism without proper regulation can be very very messy.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

During childhood @ our granny's place, we used to get milk from neighbors who had cattle. It was fresh and everything was prepared out of it (coffee, tea, curd, chaach, dahi, ghee, kova, et al.)

When the milking was less people used to skip chai or have less curd for a day or two, cattle were never forced. It was a perfect balance of nature and human needs

Nice.....

What happens when calves want to drink milk? You guys let them have it and then milk the rest?

 

[aloo paratha]

Very sad to read tbh...

 

[James]

Oat milk ain't bad. Much better than soya milk. And without the ethical concerns / health risks of dairy.

 

[JaDed]

Oat milk ain't bad. Much better than soya milk. And without the ethical concerns / health risks of dairy.

So many now Almond Milk,Oat Milk do u know the difference?

 

[Yatoo]

One of the advantages of living in a village is good unadulterated milk from any household rearing a cow or two.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Nice.....

What happens when calves want to drink milk? You guys let them have it and then milk the rest?

Yup. We used to be there only for summer vacations so such instances were less. Cow was like an extended family member they were never abused or exploited.

 

[Robert]

I stopped drinking cow's milk because this is an unnatural food for adult humans - we are not calves after all - and because of the way the cows are treated.

Soya milk is an alternative but contains substances which mimic female hormones, so not a good thing for a man to drink.

Nut milk is best IMO.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Yup. We used to be there only for summer vacations so such instances were less. Cow was like an extended family member they were never abused or exploited.

That's how it should be.

So nice to hear it.

 

[Cracket]

This is seriously making me consider milk. And I love cow's milk.

 

[Syed1]

One of the advantages of living in a village is good unadulterated milk from any household rearing a cow or two.

Yuckkkk... I've tried "fresh" milk. It is so smelly

 

[MenInG]

Milk isnt the issue here. It is the inhuman treatment of cows

 

[James]

Milk isnt the issue here. It is the inhuman treatment of cows

The milk piece is worth a look in isolation as well. Currently we are the only animal that drinks another animal's milk. It is therefore an unnatural practice. No wonder it makes so many people feel queasy and bloated. Best to find alternatives.

 

[Robert]

Milk isnt the issue here. It is the inhuman treatment of cows

Both are issues for me.

Tried oat milk today on the recommendation of [MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION] - found it OK.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I stopped drinking cow's milk because this is an unnatural food for adult humans - we are not calves after all - and because of the way the cows are treated.

Soya milk is an alternative but contains substances which mimic female hormones, so not a good thing for a man to drink.

Nut milk is best IMO.

The way cows are treated in very sad but milk has great benefits, it's high in calcium and protein. Milk is one of my favourite drinks , I've tried tried allsorts of milk from cows, goats to camels. There is nothing unnatural with drinking milk, it's good for humans.

 

[Robert]

The way cows are treated in very sad but milk has great benefits, it's high in calcium and protein. Milk is one of my favourite drinks , I've tried tried allsorts of milk from cows, goats to camels. There is nothing unnatural with drinking milk, it's good for humans.

You think drinking from the udder of a different species throughout life is natural? No other animal does this. It would be more "natural" to continue to drink from our mothers throughout life. At least they are the same species as us. Why subsitute our mothers' milk with that of different species?

 

[carbon11]

Cow milk is not good for you especially the western breeds

But even in Pakistan they are cross breeding western breeds with local breeds under a false myth that western breeds give more milk when the reason is they are fed silage which is bad and injected with hormones and antibiotics and live in colder climate hence the gallons of extra milk that is not good for humans

The best milk is actually goat milk and camel milk which is good for you

 

[TM Riddle]

One of the advantages of living in a village is good unadulterated milk from any household rearing a cow or two.

I personally prefer buffalo's. We have 6 buffalos at our farm in village and I just love the taste of their milk.

 

[waqar goraya]

You think drinking from the udder of a different species throughout life is natural? No other animal does this. It would be more "natural" to continue to drink from our mothers throughout life. At least they are the same species as us. Why subsitute our mothers' milk with that of different species?

What do you say about Lions eating zebras, Cheetahs relishing deer? Also about man eating other dozen types of meat. Does the thing "species" only matter in milk ?

 

[waqar goraya]

Yuckkkk... I've tried "fresh" milk. It is so smelly

Taste varies with breed and their feed.

 

[KingKhanWC]

You think drinking from the udder of a different species throughout life is natural? No other animal does this. It would be more "natural" to continue to drink from our mothers throughout life. At least they are the same species as us. Why subsitute our mothers' milk with that of different species?

Well i've never drank directly from an udder.

But chickens, goats, cats, dogs and all sorts of animals drink milk. I'm not sure where you got the idea no other animals do this? The mothers milk is for when you are a baby, after this there is milk of cows, goats, camels, buffalo for us to enjoy with delight. I love drinking it as soon as the animal is milked but this is usually when I'm abroad in Pakistan or UAE, as the animals are free range.

 

[sshakir411]

Food inc. covered this many years ago. It's a good movie to watch to understand how everything in the food industry works..kind of like a bad eye opener.

 

[Third_Umpire]

Animal milk is certainly not for human consumption, as more and more studies are proving. The level of cholesterol and fat are simply not required for human nutrition. And this of course makes sense; animals produce milk for their newborn, just like humans do. The fact that humans milk animals year round, many times using hormones and other chemicals to induce milk, doesn't change the biological purpose of this milk.

Curious as to why anyone would think animal milk is a beverage for human consumption, and not just food for baby animals?

 

[KingKhanWC]

Animal milk is certainly not for human consumption, as more and more studies are proving. The level of cholesterol and fat are simply not required for human nutrition. And this of course makes sense; animals produce milk for their newborn, just like humans do. The fact that humans milk animals year round, many times using hormones and other chemicals to induce milk, doesn't change the biological purpose of this milk.

Curious as to why anyone would think animal milk is a beverage for human consumption, and not just food for baby animals?

On the night Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was taken on a night journey (Miraj) two cups, one containing wine and the other milk, were presented to him at Jerusalem. He looked at it and took the cup of milk. Gabriel said, "Praise be to Allah Who guided you to Al-Fitra (the right path); if you had taken (the cup of) wine, your nation would have gone astray."

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5576
In-book reference : Book 74, Hadith 2
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 69, Hadith 48

 

[Third_Umpire]

On the night Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was taken on a night journey (Miraj) two cups, one containing wine and the other milk, were presented to him at Jerusalem. He looked at it and took the cup of milk. Gabriel said, "Praise be to Allah Who guided you to Al-Fitra (the right path); if you had taken (the cup of) wine, your nation would have gone astray."

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5576
In-book reference : Book 74, Hadith 2
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 69, Hadith 48

So that's where you are coming from Got it. Only something like that can make the case for animal milk consumption, for those who believe in it.

Otherwise, going by facts alone, the case against is pretty conclusive.

 

[KingKhanWC]

So that's where you are coming from Got it. Only something like that can make the case for animal milk consumption, for those who believe in it.

Otherwise, going by facts alone, the case against is pretty conclusive.

No I just gave you a religious perspective. Billions of gallons of milk are sold daily throughout the world, all over the world. This is enough to show milk is a drink for humans.

 

[Third_Umpire]

No I just gave you a religious perspective. Billions of gallons of milk are sold daily throughout the world, all over the world. This is enough to show milk is a drink for humans.

Yes, and as I said, only a religious perspective can justify the consumption of milk as a human beverage. Scientifically and medically, it's not a human beverage.

This is a separate issue that what actually happens in the world. What happens in the world cannot be used as proof for the validity of the same thing. Billions of gallons of milk are sold daily against scientific and medical wisdom. Just like billions of lbs of meat are sold and consumed. As are millions of packs of cigarettes, etc etc. Thousands of murders are committed every day, all around the world. Murder is not good for us

 

[KingKhanWC]

Yes, and as I said, only a religious perspective can justify the consumption of milk as a human beverage. Scientifically and medically, it's not a human beverage.

This is a separate issue that what actually happens in the world. What happens in the world cannot be used as proof for the validity of the same thing. Billions of gallons of milk are sold daily against scientific and medical wisdom. Just like billions of lbs of meat are sold and consumed. As are millions of packs of cigarettes, etc etc. Thousands of murders are committed every day, all around the world. Murder is not good for us

Oh I forgot, you reject authentic hadiths, by bad.

A bit of silly comparison unless you believe milk is on the same harmful level of tobacco and murder?

Scientific evidence also suggests there are many benefits of drinking milk. You seem to pick and choose what agrees with you as you do with religion.

 

[Third_Umpire]

Oh I forgot, you reject authentic hadiths, by bad.

A bit of silly comparison unless you believe milk is on the same harmful level of tobacco and murder?

Scientific evidence also suggests there are many benefits of drinking milk. You seem to pick and choose what agrees with you as you do with religion.

Not sure if the level of harm matters here, point is that it is harmful and not meant for human consumption. Can't argue for something based on it's relative harm to other awful things. And I'm not picking and choosing, I know that milk contains vitamin D and calcium, both of which are good for us. However, these are included in copious amounts way beyond our needs, and these can be sourced from other foods without any of the negative consequences of consuming animal milk. So it's hard for me to make a case for animal milk consumption based on it having a few nutrients that are readily available elsewhere.

And on the point of just how harmful, it (along with many other aspects of the modern diet) may be much more harmful than we are used to thinking. Diet is shown to affect humans on physical, mental and psychological levels.

That said, I know it's easier said than done. I myself indulge in many of the things I know don't belong in my body (meat, fried foods, soda, etc). Eating to live (vs. living to eat) is a tough nut to crack.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Not sure if the level of harm matters here, point is that it is harmful and not meant for human consumption. Can't argue for something based on it's relative harm to other awful things. And I'm not picking and choosing, I know that milk contains vitamin D and calcium, both of which are good for us. However, these are included in copious amounts way beyond our needs, and these can be sourced from other foods without any of the negative consequences of consuming animal milk. So it's hard for me to make a case for animal milk consumption based on it having a few nutrients that are readily available elsewhere.

And on the point of just how harmful, it (along with many other aspects of the modern diet) may be much more harmful than we are used to thinking. Diet is shown to affect humans on physical, mental and psychological levels.

That said, I know it's easier said than done. I myself indulge in many of the things I know don't belong in my body (meat, fried foods, soda, etc). Eating to live (vs. living to eat) is a tough nut to crack.

If you feel it's harmful and don't want to indulge, this is your choice. But as I mentioned there is plenty of scientific evidence milk from various animals has great health benefits. E.g Camel milk can help with diabetes and help against bacterial infections. It certifiably isn't as clear cut as you are suggesting.