Guest guest Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 My understanding is that if you keep milking a cow, it will keep giving milk for many years. However, the rate that it gives will drop off to the point that it is not profitable unless she is re-impregnated. Jack - " Colleen Patrick-Goudreau " <colleen <sfBAVeg > Cc: " Viva!USA " <info; " Paul Shapiro " <pshapiro; " Alka Chandna " <AlkaC Tuesday, August 19, 2003 8:19 AM [sfBAVeg] " humane milk and eggs " > Following an animal service I did at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland two weeks ago, a very productive " conversation " has sprung up on the church's listserv regarding dairy -- in particular -- and the treatment of animals raised for food in general. > > The latest question I have received is basically " are there humane products out there I can buy so I can have my milk/meat/eggs and drink/eat it too? " This person points out the very clever marketing by Horizon Dairy that says they treat their cows the way the mother cow treats her calves. > > I'd love to give him the most comprehensive answer possible, so there's a few things I'm looking to give him. > > 1. Is there any articles/documentation online that outlines how Horizon fought against more humane standards for their cows when the organic standards were being written? > 2. What do we know about local dairies like " Straus, " which is always the default dairy people ask about? Do we know their calves are given away for veal? Do we know the cows are sent to slaughter? That is to say, is there proof - since people are skeptical? > 3. He also asks: Are there people in PETA who monitor and/or rate various daries and their practices? By the way, all similar questions/comments for eggs. Would love to know what percentage of dairies are even small dairies whose practices might be a little better. > > I'm not asking these questions because I'm trying to find a loophole, but if I come back with an answer that says there are NO " humane " dairies, someone might counter my response. So I want to be prepared with the most information. > > I know all the reasons not to support the dairy industry, so I'm not looking for a list here. The person is basically asking if the cow doesn't have to be pregnant in order to give milk. He's a pretty intelligent guy -- I don't know why he doesn't understand the basic concept of pregnancy/birth/lactation of mammals.... > > THANK YOU FOR WHATEVER HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME!!! > > Colleen > ---------------- > Colleen Patrick-Goudreau > Senior Content & Creative Director > JustGive.org > phone (510) 238-5004 > fax (510) 238-4809 > colleen > http://www.justgive.org > --------------------- > " Don't do nothing because you can't do everything. Do Something. Anything. " ~Sasha > > " As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people. Slaughter and justice cannot dwell together. " ~Isaac Bashevis Singer > > " The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans anymore than black people were made for whites or women for men. " ~Alice Walker > > " Nonviolence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages. " ~Thomas Edison > > -Recipes and Cooking Classes: http://www.generationv.org/compassionatecooks.htm > --------------------- > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 It was brought to my attention that I was referring to cows as " it " in my post below. I do apologize. Jack - <jacknorris " Colleen Patrick-Goudreau " <colleen; <sfBAVeg > Cc: " Viva!USA " <info; " Paul Shapiro " <pshapiro; " Alka Chandna " <AlkaC Tuesday, August 19, 2003 10:35 AM Re: [sfBAVeg] " humane milk and eggs " > My understanding is that if you keep milking a cow, it will keep giving milk > for many years. However, the rate that it gives will drop off to the point > that it is not profitable unless she is re-impregnated. > > Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2003 Report Share Posted September 2, 2003 Hello! Regarding your question about Strauss Dairy, I spoke with a man who worked there about 1 year ago to find out about their practices, and he said that 1. Male calves are sent to auction after they have drunk the colustrum (1-2 days old). At auction they are bought by anyone (beef/veal producers) 2. Female calves are kept in isolation for their first 4-5 months of life with no contact withtheir mothers or with other calves. They are kept in what are essentially large dog houses. They do not have freedom to roam. 3. Female adult lactating cows are artifically inseminated once a year. They are then milked 3 times a day when lactating (this is more than the usual 2 times a day of many conventional dairy farms). I had a bit of an " in " to get access to someone at Strauss who spoke this freely with me, but think that you could just call them up to ask about their practices if you have more specific questions. Thank you so much for spreading the word and all your work! Sincerely, alicia moore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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