In What Ways is Dairy Farming Causing our Cattle to Suffer? NIA

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.

Milking machines are the next cause of suffering for our cattle. Usually, in a state of freedom, cows in the UK typically feed their calves for approximately 6 – 8 months, where milk is secreted at a rate of about 8-10 litres per day. Overall, the mother produces less than 1,000 litres during her lactation, storing around two litres in her udders at any one time. However, in modern dairy farming, mothers can be expected to produce between 6 and 12,000 litres during their ten-month lactation. This means they may be carrying as much as 20 litres at any one time. Can you imagine the weight of that? Producing this much milk puts the cows’ bodies under enormous strain and this, therefore, is another way dairy farming harms our cattle.

Housing of the cattle is yet another cruel aspect of dairy farming. Whilst being restricted to only half a year on pasture, for six months dairy cows are kept indoors. The housing of the cattle usually consists of concrete cubicles around a central communal area, which are separated by metal bars. This containment not only restricts the cows but also causes suffering as it is practically bare and unnatural environment. Also, this sort of housing is associated with behavioural problems such as aggression and bullying amongst the cows, which can cause suffering for those who fall victim. In addition, the close proximity of the cows in housing may damage their health, by increasing the risk of mastitis (infection of the udder), lameness and other contagious diseases. Did you know that nowadays, at least 10% of dairy cows in the UK are now being housed all year round? Could you imagine being locked in your house for a year? Housing, therefore, causes suffering of the cattle as it prevents them from expressing many of their natural behaviours as well as putting them in an unnatural environment and making it more likely for them to fall ill. What happens to the calves and the cattle, you make ask? Cows naturally live up to 25 years old, but by the time they reach four or five on a dairy farm, they are most likely to be physically exhausted, lame and infertile. Savagely, these cows that can not keep up with our demands are sent to a slaughterhouse. The fate of the calves may also shock you. Each year, over half a million unwanted calves are born in the UK. Many of the females replace their mothers in the dairy herd; however, the males are often regarded as waste by-products. Some are allowed a few months to live, others are killed for mince and food products and some are simply shot in the head shortly after birth. This means every year in the UK tens of thousands of calves are slaughtered just so that farmers can sell their mothers’ milk. This shows just how much pain and suffering humans cause for all lives of all cattle in dairy farming – from birth right up to death.

On the other hand, however, there are people who don’t see the ways that dairy farming is causing our cattle to suffer. Perhaps they take the view that as the cows produce milk, and milk makes money, they are just tools to gain profit rather than living creatures, such as ourselves, and do not need affection or proper care. Others may believe that the wellbeing of the cows simply does not matter, as long as production is cheap and efficient. Although the quantity of people who believe this is unknown, those who do will be the hardest to convince that their methods – our methods – of dairy farming are actually harmful and cruel to the cattle.

What can we do? In a world where consumption of dairy products results in this treatment of farmed cattle, we can help by using alternatives such as soya, coconut, oat and

nut milks. This would reduce demand and would need to be a conscious choice worldwide for this to be effective. Moreover, we can instead find a way to communicate with farmers and improve the care of farmed cattle so that a few of the ways in which they suffer can be ameliorated – such as the issue of housing and disease. Regardless of this, using milk alternatives should be a choice so – reader – do not feel pressured into doing so. This is just one possible option to helping reduce the suffering of cattle, but if nothing changes in this industry, farmed cattle will continue to live in endless cycles of pain, disease and death.

REFERENCES

www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/ our-campaigns/animal-farming/ suffering-farmed-cattle/