Can Dairy Ever Be Cruelty-Free?

Dairy might not seem cruel until you look deeper into the facts. This blog will shed light on how even organic, cruelty-free, and humane dairy farms might not always be so compassionate. We’re also going to share some awesome dairy alternatives that won’t leave you missing cheese, cream, butter, and other dairy favorites.

The Cruelty of Dairy

Many people don’t think about animal cruelty when drinking milk or using butter on their breakfast toast. Since there is no slaughtering taking place, then the cows must not be suffering – right? Sure, this is a positive way of thinking; but it’s not the truth.

The truth of the matter is that most dairy farms act inhumanely with the cows - it’s just not as evident as slaughter farms. Here are some of the top ways in which cows are mistreated on dairy farms.

Newborn Cows Are Taken from Their Mothers

Cows are more than just milk machines and cheeseburgers. They are sentient beings. Just as any mother would, a cow forms an instant bond with its baby calf. They want to stay with their baby and give them love, not to mention they want to provide them with the nutrition they deserve.

Unfortunately, dairy farms remove calves from their mother within the first one to three days of their life. Usually, it occurs within the early 12 hours of life. The sudden separation leads to extreme emotional distress for both the baby and mother cow. The break also leads young calves to have social issues as they get older.

Young Cows Don’t Get the Nutrition They Need

Since calves are taken from their mothers almost immediately, they aren’t able to nurse as they are meant to. Instead, calves only a few days old are fed unhealthy milk replacers. Sometimes, these milk replacers contain harmful substances such as cattle blood. Without proper nutrients, calves are not able to grow as strong as they usually would.

Cows Are Kept Continuously Pregnant

Cows are forcefully impregnated at least once a year to produce “enough” milk for the demand. It is performed unnaturally, with artificial insemination. The constant impregnation of the cow leads to emotional and physical damage.

And it doesn’t stop there – maximizing milk production leads to premature death and illness in mother cows. A cow’s lifespan can be cut in half, if not more, due to the excessive stress placed on the body.

Horrible Living Conditions

Most people are aware of the horrid living conditions in slaughter farms, but many people won’t clump dairy farms into the mix. Unfortunately, though, plenty of dairy cows are living in just as horrible conditions.

These cows do not have a whole lot of space and live their life on concrete floors rather than grazing happily. Their diets aren’t much better, either. Antibiotics and hormones are added to manipulate a cow’s genetics and create more milk that is necessary.

After all, cows are just like any other mammal – they only produce what their baby needs. To have enough milk for supply and demand from humans, they are forced to make more in an unhealthy way.

Aside from antibiotics and hormones, some dairy farm cows are fed an unnatural diet that consists of far more protein than necessary. Sometimes, their food contains animal-based ingredients like chicken feathers and fish. These are not ideal for herbivorous cows, who would much rather munch on grass.

Mastitis Can Occur

Mastitis is a severe inflammation of the mammary glands. As you may have guessed, dairy farm cows are more prone to this painful inflammation than free-range cows. Why? Because continuous milking, which is unnatural, can allow for bacteria to enter the milk ducts. When mastitis is found, the infected cow is likely to be sent to the slaughterhouse.

Young Males and Extra Females are Slaughtered

Perhaps the worst problem with dairy farms is the slaughtering of young male calves and extra females. These young “extras” are kept alive for a short time before they are slaughtered and used for veal.

During this time, they are fed a low-iron milk substitute that helps them gain weight and keep the flesh pale and soft.

Veal production takes cruelty to a new level and it’s not for the faint hearted whatsoever. But it’s worth learning about because it’s a practice that needs more global awareness. If you’re ready to find out more, you can take a look at this article: Is Veal Cruel?

Are Any Dairy Farms Humane?

With such outrage from the community regarding animal welfare, more people are becoming wary of consuming animal products. Factory-farmed goods are becoming less and less popular, even when it comes to dairy. This is because there are next to no regulations on these high production farms, which would lead anyone to believe it is cruel and inhumane.

But what about the farms that are enacting “humane” practices? What about products that are labeled Animal Welfare Approved or Certified Humane? Are these entirely cruelty-free products? The best answer is almost. While these labels show a goal towards complete humanity, a few inhumane practices are performed on these farms.

Animal Welfare Approved

When you’re looking for cruelty-free products, the best bet is to find products labeled as Animal Welfare Approved (AWA). This label comes with many benefits for animals and consumers. For example, animals who are raised on an Animal Welfare Approved farm will have the following services:

The AWA seal is only permitted for independent farms. That is why many consumers looking for cruelty-free will look to their local farms rather than the grocery store for their goods. Research has proven that independent, smaller farms offer the best welfare for animals.

Now, these are several benefits that anyone would agree are excellent for cows. But there are still one or two clauses that are less than favorable. One aspect that is still okay under this permit is the castration of cattle without pain relief – which is, obviously, inhumane.

Certified Humane Raised & Handled