humane milk and eggs

[Guest guest]

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

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Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

Senior Content & Creative Director

JustGive.org

phone (510) 238-5004

fax (510) 238-4809

colleen

http://www.justgive.org

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" 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

 

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