IN WHAT WAYS IS DAIRY FARMING CAUSING OUR CATTLE TO SUFFER? By Nia The first issue I’d like to raise about dairy farming is the process by which getting the milk is carried out. In order to produce large quantities of milk for commercial usage, dairy cows are forced to endure a constant cycle of pregnancy and birth, which means their bodies are under constant strain. Just so we can have the milk in the fridge ready for tomorrow’s cuppa. We exploit the cow’s reproductive systems in an unnatural way, using artificial insemination to impregnate the cows – meaning that even the most basic and natural process of mating is done forcefully. The powerful hormones used in this technique force the mothers to produce large numbers of embryos which are then surgically removed and implanted into surrogate cows, to increase the number of milk-producing mothers available. Not only does the surgery cause pain and suffering for the cows, the calves born are often taken away from their mothers within just 24 hours of birth. This cruel and unnatural separation causes anxiety for both the mother and the infant, which is yet another form of suffering that we impose on the cattle in dairy farming.
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THE CHRONICLE
2021/2022
