HUMANS ARE THE ONLY SPECIES TO DRINK MILK FROM ANOTHER SPECIES, AND CONTINUE TO DO SO IN ADULTHOOD!
Production of milk from cows for human is one of the world's oldest farming practices. Many dairy farmlets were small and family operated. However, due to the very successful marketing campaign by the Dairy Industry, backed by some questionable nutritional advice, the majority of people believe that milk is natural to drink and the only valuable source of calcium. The increase in demand for milk and dairy products have resulted in an industry that has become intensive, unnatural for the cows and holds many cruel practices that remain hidden from the public. It is also the farming practice that uses the most resources and produces the most waste.
History of dairying in Australia
Dairying in Australia can be traced back to 1788, when just 7 cows and 2 bulls were brought over by the First Fleet to be used to supply milk to the fledgling colony, as well as to serve as foundation stock for future herds.
Although faced with some difficulty, the cattle did successfully breed and increase in number. In 1820 the first real foundations of the dairy industry of today were laid in the Illawarra District of New South Wales. It was at this time that early settlers started to specialise in the manufacture of butter and cheese. As a result of their success, dairy production then spread to the other Australian states.
Dairying as a local industry started to change in the 1880's and 1890's when technological developments enabled a rapid expansion of the industry on a commercial basis. These advances included refridgeration, pastuerisation and the introduction of automated milking machines.
Dairy Industry of Today
There are few small dairy farms that are ran and operated by local farmers. Dairy production has become an intensive practice that relies on artificial breeding of animals from genetically proven sires on processing plants.
Dairy as an Animal Rights Issue
The Australian public is greatly unaware of the hidden practices behind the Dairy Industry. The average person is under the misconception that cows 'need to be milked'. This is untrue as just like all mammals, cows only produce milk when they have given birth to their young. To keep up with such a high demand of milk, cows are forcibly impregnated every year, and most times artificially, with the farmer using a device referred to jokingly as a 'rape rack'. This involves the farmer going from cow to cow in an assembly line, and forcing the device into the cow.
The natural lifespan of a dairy cow can be up to 20 years. However, the life of a modern dairy cow on today's processing plant is 4 years, as the repeated forced pregnancies reduces her productivity and she is no longer viable. The cows that unable to fall pregnant or produce milk are sent to slaughter.
Cows are placed under enormous physical strain to produce such large quantities of milk. The average yield per cow rose from 2,750 litres in 1974/5 to nearly double of 4,980 in 2004/5.
"The dairy cow is exposed to more abnormal physiological demands than any other class of farm animals" - Dr. John Webster (Professor of Animal Husbandry, Briston University's Clinal Veterinary Science Dept)
Disease
The continual use of conventional milking machines causes many painful problems for the dairy cow. The udders become extremely painful and red and are often swollen. There is also damage to the teat canal lining resulting in scar tissue and deformaties of the udders.
Diseases such as 'milk fever' (hypocalcaenia) is often experienced. This involves the cow suffering from low blood calcium as a result of continual milking and calving, and often results in death.
Another ailment suffered by dairy cows is mastitis, a condition that women breatfeeding also experience . Mastitis is the extreme inflammation of the breast tissue of the mammary glands. Mastitis can also be spread among cows and is often treated by antibiotics.
Due to the unnatural swelling of the udders, cows can also suffer from lameness and back problems as the udders are an unnatural size for her weakened body. Cows that are unable to walk or stand, a labelled as "downers" and are sent to slaughter.
Mutilations
In Victoria, tail docking is allowed despite there being no welfare justification for it.
Famale calves are also mutilated by having their horns removed and any 'spare' teats removed by scissors. All mutilations are done without anaesthesia and pain relief.
Unnatural Birth
Cattle are inseminated to ensure they are all impregnated at the same time to fit within the dairying system. Cows are also regularly induced, meaning that they are forced to give birth to the calf early and unnaturally. This is to ensure that their milking cycle stays in synch with the rest of the herd - a practice called 'seasonal calving'. Induced calves are predisposed to being stillborn or are born weakened and prone to illness. The industry terms these calves as being 'non-viable' and the ones that manage to survive the early birth are sent to slaughter within the first week of being born.
The first milk produced by mothers is rich in colostrum colostrum, which contains immune cells to help protect the newborn. It is essential for the calf's immune system. However, due to the competition posed by the calves for the milk destined for human consumption, calves can be taken before they have had enough of this vital milk.
Cows that are induced often suffer retained placenta, photosensitisation and decreased immunity leading to an increase in susceptibility to infection and even death. Farmers regularly use antibiotics and other medications to minimise the onset.
What about the calves?
Since calves are competition for humans for cows' milk, they are removed from their mothers within 12-24 hours. It has been reported by farmers that both mother and calf call out for each other days after separation, and the mother crying and calling weeks after her baby was taken from her.
Calves that are not of any use to the Dairy Industry, such as females too weak to become milk suppliers, and the majority of male calves are known as Bobby Calves. In 2006 around 630,000 Bobby Calves and 237,000 older calves were slaughtered in Australia. Bobby Calves are fed powdered milk substitutes which are unnatural to them and cause them to become malnourished and weak. Many Bobby Calves are too weak to stand and are trucked to slaughter at 5 days of age, or if raised for veal, they are killed at 3 months of age. Slaughtered calves not intended for human consumption as veal, often end up as either baby or pet food.
Go here to read the life of Shirley, a Bobby Calf.
The Health Risk to Humans
Humans are the only species that continues to suckle after being weaned, and drink milk into adulthood, and to do it from another species!
Since up to 90% of the human population is lactose intolerant and the human body is not designed to drink cows milk, studies have shown that the consumption of cows milk is linked to many human diseases.
A decade long Ph.D study by Professor T. Coin Campbell, known as "The China Study", found a connection between diet and disease in world medical history. The study convinced him and others within the Medical field that "normal" illnesses of ageing in Western society are in fact not normal. His findings indicate that the vast majority, perhaps 80% to 90% of all cancers, cardiovascular diseases and other forms of degenerative illnesses can be prevented by adopting a plant-based diet and cutting out cows milk.
Despite milk and dairy being seen as the primary source of our calcium needs, our calcium requirements can be easily met by eating other foods and drinking soy.
And the Environment?
Out of all the industries that use animals for human consumption, the dairy industry is by far the worst in water usage and waste production.
The water used include just as small 3% for drinking water for the cows, 7% for cleaning of sheds, and the remaining 90% for irrigation. The dairy industry also uses 25% of the water allocated for all Australia's irrigation! Based on the statistics from Savewater.com.au, it takes 1 magalitre (1 million litres) to produce just 1,200L of milk. That equates to around 4,000 glasses of water to produce 1 glass of milk.
It wasn't until the late 1990's that the dairy industry started reducing the amount of effluent running into natural waterways and neighbouring properties. This effluent included faecal and urine waste, as well as the run-off from 'birthing' sheds. A lactating cow excretes 73-81% nitrogen which can contaminate both surface and ground water. Small to medium dairies can generate 900-1800 litres of wastewater daily whicle larger dairies can generate up to 4,500 litres in a single day. With concern to manure, a single dairy cow produces 57 litres of manure each day and around 20 tons per annum. 200 cows can also produce as much nitrogen in their manure as a town of 10,000 humans.
Due to the high amount of watste and its destructive quality, the dairy industry is the most watched agricultural sector by the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority).
Furthermore, dairy production produces high amounts of methane gas and ammonia being released into the atmosphere. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas- around 21 times more potent in greenhouse terms than carbon dioxide. Both cattle and sheep are producing around 14% of Australia's total greenhouse emissions.
That's terrible! What Can I Do?
- If you don't want to be a part of cruelty and environmental damage, than limit or stop your consumption of dairy. There are plenty of delicious soy milks (flavoured, too) , that are of exceptionally high quality. There are also a range of dairy-free chocolates, icecream and yoghurts too.
- Tell others about the hidden cruelty practices within the dairy industry. The majoarity of people are unaware and ignorant to where their milk, and other animal products come from.
- Do a project or presentation at your school about the dairy industry. For project ideas, assignment tips and other actions, visit our ACT section.
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