The Dairy Industry - Animal Equality
DAIRY'S DARK SECRET
Cows in the dairy industry suffer their entire lives. From the moment they enter this world they are treated like commodities. Special bonds are routinely broken and cows often develop painful medical conditions.
Just like humans, cows only produce milk for their offspring. Therefore, they are forcefully impregnated every year. A female and her offspring are forced through a cycle of cruelty that ends with their slaughter.
BROKEN FAMILIES
Much like humans, cows have strong maternal instincts but a mother’s bond with her calf has no place on factory dairy farms. Shortly after birth, calves are dragged away from their mother never to be seen again. A cow will have to go through this painful process every year of her life. The milk she produces for her calf is instead taken from her and sold to consumers.
CONFINED ALONE
After being torn away from their mothers, calves will spend much of their lives in extreme confinement. In fact, most will spend the first 2 to 3 months of life confined in lonely barren hutches, fed a diet of milk replacer while humans drink the milk intended for them.
Over 90% of U.S. dairy cows are confined in primarily indoor operations, with more than 60% tethered by the neck inside barren stalls, unable to perform even the most basic behaviors essential to their well-being.
PAINFUL MUTILATIONS
As cows get older they undergo a series of painful mutilations:
Branding: Workers heat iron bars in open fires and burn the flesh of young cows. These untreated wounds are ripe for infection.
Dehorning: To remove an animal’s horns, workers cut them out or burn off delicate tissue. A cow’s horns are full of blood and hypersensitive nerve endings but this is done without any anesthesia.
Tail docking: Another common practice is for cows to have their tails removed. They will either be cut off with shears or, in some instances, workers will wrap wire or rubber bands around the tail.
BRUTALLY KILLED
Cows in the dairy industry face the same fate as those in the meat industry. They are killed when their milk production declines. No cow is allowed to live out their natural lifespan of up to 25 years. In fact, 20% of the beef sold in stores comes from cows who were exploited by the dairy industry.
After being transported long distances cows are forced into stun boxes. Inside these chambers, they are shot in the head, a process meant to render them unconscious. However, many are still conscious when they have their throats slit.
DAIRY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Raising cows for their milk contributes methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide – all of which are toxic greenhouse gasses – to the atmosphere. In fact, nitrous oxide and methane are 296 and 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide respectively.
In some places, the dairy industry contributes to the conversion of natural habitat to agricultural land – a leading cause of deforestation. Local water resources are under threat due to the poor handling of manure and fertilizers.
DAIRY AND YOUR HEALTH
Consuming dairy products puts you at an increased risk of several serious health conditions. Dairy has been linked to higher risks of various cancers, especially to cancers of the breast and prostate. This is due to milk’s high levels of insulin-like growth factor.
Though it’s true we need calcium to keep our bones strong to prevent osteoporosis, milk is not the only nor best source of this mineral. Green leafy vegetables and fortified plant-based drinks are excellent cruelty-free sources of these necessary nutrients.
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RELEVANT CAMPAIGNS
Cruelty is standard practice on dairy farms. The public deserves to know the reality inside this secretive industry. Animal Equality conducts investigations and education campaigns that help reduce animal suffering.
Undercover Investigation into BabyBel Supplier: animalequality.org/action/baby...
Mexico's Cruel Dairy Industry: animalequality.org/news/invest...
Italy's Buffalo Mozzarella Production: animalequality.org/news/invest...
India's Dairy Industry Exposed: animalequality.in/india-deadly...
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