Sunday, January 3, 2010

I bet you didn't know about this...




Regardless of where they live, all dairy cows must give birth in order to begin producing milk. Today, dairy cows are forced to have a calf every year. Like human beings, cows have a nine-month gestation period, and so giving birth every twelve months is physically demanding. The cows are also artificially re-impregnated while they are still lactating from their previous birthing, so their bodies are still producing milk during seven months of their nine-month pregnancy. With genetic manipulation and intensive production technologies, it is common for modern dairy cows to produce 100 pounds of milk a day — ten times more than they would produce naturally. As a result, the cows' bodies are under constant stress, and they are at risk for numerous health problems.
Calves born to dairy cows are separated from their mothers immediately after birth. The half that are born female are raised to replace older dairy cows in the milking herd. The other half of the calves are male, and because they will never produce milk, they are raised and slaughtered for meat. Most are killed for beef, with close to one million being used for veal.


The veal industry was created as a by-product of the dairy industry to take advantage of an abundant supply of unwanted male calves. Veal calves commonly live for eighteen to twenty weeks in wooden crates that are so small that they cannot turn around, stretch their legs, or even lie down comfortably. The calves are fed a liquid milk substitute, deficient in iron and fiber, which is designed to make the animals anemic, resulting in the light-colored flesh that is prized as veal. In addition to this high-priced veal, some calves are killed at just a few days old to be sold as low-grade 'bob' veal for products like frozen TV dinners. 
You can read HERE about veal, and their dairy cow mothers.

If you'd like to look into the world of Factory Farmed animals, this is an easy way.  Farm Sanctuary brings this to you in small doses.  You can control the amount you want to see.  This is a great way to educate yourself about "The Way We Treat The Animals We Eat". 
Click HERE to the Farm Sanctuary" Virtual Experience"

I thank all of you who took the time to look.
Kelly

4 comments:

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  3. Excellent post KK!!! I don't drink milk either!!!! Geez.... I need to give up eating beef..

    xoxoxoxo
    Donna M

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  4. I did know this! I have been vegetarian off and on most of my life and strictly for 20 years.
    10 years ago I lived in a town with some dairies, and a very small one in my "backyard" I learned that the sweet babies never stuck around and the cows carried more milk then their bodies should.
    I had always thought milk cows had it easier than meat cows, but they get abused on a daily basis and go to slaughter anyway.
    Seeeing and learning that made me become vegan 15 years ago.
    Thanks for sharing, Bella

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