The Dairy Dilema
Farm animals are the most abused yet the least protected species of animals on this planet and one of the most disturbing and inhumane industries regarding farm animals today is the dairy and veal industry. With undercover investigations on the behind the scenes in animal slaughter and dairy plants, educational programs and social media storms,
Dairy cows are kept hooked up to milking machines for
60% of the time. They are deprived from the outdoors
for most of their lives.
people across the globe are now becomming more educated and conscious of their intake of dairy and animal by-products, as well as the truth behind their operations.
However, the world is changing. Here are a few facts about the dairy industry and some ways to encourage people to make individual steps, to not only consuming less dairy products and helping improve animal welfare, but also to aid in their own health.
Newborn calves are torn from their mothers hours
from birth and confined to veal crates.
First, a highlight of the sad facts. did you know:
FACT: Like humans, dairy cows must give birth in order to produce milk for her baby. They also carry their young for nine months.
FACT: Unlike humans who are allowed to rear and bond with their babies, dairy cows are separated often within an hour of birth. The cow is left distressed and panicked and the baby is locked away in a cramped veal crate. The males live a few months (if lucky) before being slaughtered for their meat and the females (a percentage) face the same fate as their mothers.
FACT: The dairy cows are constantly kept pregnant and are continually artificially inseminated to produce milk for people to drink.
FACT: Cows today,are forced to be milked 3-4 times a day and produce up to an astonishing 12 times more milk than they would naturally produce for their calf.
FACT: 90% of dairy cows are confined indoors and hooked to milking machines 60% of the time.Because of the due hardship and stress of constant pregnancy, perpetual lactation and un-natural confinement, the life span of a dairy cows is reduced from a natural 20-25 years down to 4 to 5 years of age. Once they cant produce milk at the high expectations, their tired bodies are slaughtered for their meat.
FACT: The veal industry is considered as a by product of the dairy industry. With continual births, there is a surplus of babies.
FACT: Cows are also given hormone producing drugs that can cause cancer and serious health effects in humans. They also cause painful mastitis in the cow herself.
FACT: Humans are the ONLY mammals that drink milk after they are weaned.
But there is great news !!
You have the ability to make a difference by cutting down on your consumption, or eliminating it all together. And there are alot of health benefits too. There are also many health misconceptions that many medical journals and professors are conducting studies on the adverse effects of dairy in your diet.
Read more here:http://www.pcrm.org/health/diets/vegdiets/health-concerns-about-dairy-products
ARM’s Favorite Dairy Alternatives!
