In Australia, there are over 1.6 million cows that are used to produce dairy (Animal Liberation, 2015). Although compared to overseas, the treatment of dairy cows is considered more humane as cows usually spend some time outside and in the grass, there are still many welfare issues that need to be addressed.
Many people picture the dairy industry as a pretty harmless farming group, where harm to the cattle is minimal. However this is not the case.
Each cow on average produces 5600 litres of milk annually. Like all mammals, cows produce milk to feed their young. Therefore, to fulfil their use to humans and keep up with demand, cows are forcibly impregnated to ensure birth every 13 months (Voiceless, 2014). As soon as these cows give birth, their calves are immediately separated from them for different purposes to humans (Voiceless, 2014). Many of these calves have no use to humans, so are transported for slaughter straight away and used for veal (RSPA, 2016). These calves are generally at the age of 5 days old and are fragile and unbalanced. Transporting them in this state is a very rough journey, especially when it is legal for these calves to be transported for up to 12 hours (Animal Liberation, 2015).
The immediate separation between the mother and calf is extremely distressing for each party (Animal Liberation, 2015). The maternal instincts of the mother kicks in, after enduring the discomfort of pregnancy and the pain of birth, just to have their child torn away from them so that humans can have that milk for themselves. It is an undeniably cruel practice which exemplifies just one element of animal injustice in the dairy industry.
The calves that remain on the dairy farm have their horns or buds removed. This is usually done without anaesthetic or pain relief (Voiceless, 2014), which is also an extreme form of animal injustice.
Although the cows on the dairy farms lifespan are naturally 15-20 years, they are generally slaughtered at the age of 4 (Australian Abattoirs, 2012).
All these conditions and practices represent an abundance of injustice, whereby the respect an recognition of these cows lives are omitted.
We can all improve the conditions for the dairy cows by promoting welfare of the cattle, trying vegan lifestyle choices and donating to causes like Voiceless. Click here to learn more or send a donation.
References
Animal Liberation (2015). Dairy Cruelty — Animal Liberation South Australia. [online] Animal Liberation South Australia. Available at: http://www.animalliberation.org.au/dairy-cruelty [Accessed 16 May 2019].
Australian Abattoirs (2012). Age of animals slaughtered – Facts – Aussie Abattoirs | Slaughterhouses, killing animals for human consumption. [online] Aussieabattoirs.com. Available at: https://www.aussieabattoirs.com/facts/age-slaughtered [Accessed 16 May 2019].
RSPCA (2016). Dairy Cows. [online] RSPCA Australia. Available at: https://www.rspca.org.au/campaigns/dairy-cows [Accessed 17 May 2019].
Voiceless (2014). Dairy Cows. [online] Voiceless. Available at: https://www.voiceless.org.au/hot-topics/dairy-cows [Accessed 15 May 2019].
Animals & Humans 