Is dairy farming cruel?

Yes calves are removed from their mothers shortly after birth, this is not to be cruel, but rather they are born with very weak immune systems. Getting the calf away from others and into a clean space is to help keep it healthy. This is also the reason why most of us keep calves hutched individually for the first few weeks. If a calf becomes sick and she's by herself the disease is less likely to spread, if they have contact the illness can spread quite rapidly.. In short this practice of removing calves right away and keeping them separated for the first few weeks is by no means an act of cruelty, but rather a way of keeping them healthy.

Once in a while a cow will miss her baby for a day or two, then resume life as normal. This seems to be pretty rare. In fact some times with their first and even second calf, they won't really know what to do and look it it funny. It is also quite common for a few older cows to fight over a baby while the mama is still sore.

As for feeding the calves they only need milk for about 2, maybe 3 months before their stomachs are well developed enough for other foods, The typical cow will produce well for approximately 10 months, often longer. Dairy cows are also capable of producing way more milk than a calf would ever be able to drink. Many holsteins (friesians in Europe) will peak out over 100 lbs a day if treated right, so there is plenty to share. Many of the increases in milk production come from the fact we have learned a lot about cow nutrition and comfort over the past few decades. For example a generation ago they started really paying attention to nutrition, many of us have a nutritionist who stops by ever week or two checks up on things, takes feed samples to analyze and makes adjustments if necessary. Most dairy cattle have a better diet than most people including myself. The same can be said for ventilation, barn design, lighting, bedding, stall size, etc. as far as livestock go dairy cattle are usually pretty spoiled. You won't do your best unless well nourished, healthy, and comfortable; the same concept applies to them

The calves will either get milk we've taken from the cows, or more frequently a milk replacer which is basically a milk powder that's fortified with some extra vitamins and minerals that they need then reconstituted. The main reason for the replacer is it's guaranteed to be free of disease.

In many areas there are farm tours offered periodically to either show off new ideas or else just to let the public see how things work. For example here in Michigan they get a dozen or so farms a year to host a "breakfast on the farm" event where the public can come get a breakfast, and a tour. perhaps there's something similar offered where you're at. If in the US check with your state farm bureau there's a local office in most counties, also the main ag college in most states have extensions in most counties. These would be the first people to check with to see about anything like this in your area if interested.

Whether dairy farming is "cruel" is a personal judgement that no one can make for you. It depends on your world view and how much you anthropomorphize cows. (how much you ascribe human feelings to them). I'm not sure how exactly you "know" what cows think. I've been on many dairy farms and I've never seen a cow "traumatized" because her calf was not with her.

Calves are typically raised separately from mature cows for biosecurity (to control disease and for their safety), because they consume a different diet than mature animals, and because they're not part of the milking routine. At what point they are separated from their mothers varies by the protocol of the farm. It's not to "save" the milk for sale, a cow produces much more milk than what a calf consumes, and the farmer wants the calf to have an optimal diet to ensure their healthy growth and development. The calves are fed milk and sometimes dietary supplements to ensure a complete diet, before they are eventually weaned and put on a normal feed ration or pasture.

I don't consider those practices "cruel" by any measure. Your opinion may differ.

I lived next to a farm. The calves are removed after 24 hours. Cows are on this earth to produce milk. They give milk after calving. if the calf drinks it all for weeks on end then you end up with a cow and a calf who you are feeding and are useless for anything else. That is the way it has worked since time began.

They are reared separately and after 24 hours they stop calling for their mothers. They are fed on their own.

They are not people and do not have the same maternal instincts as humans.

Uk

Cornwall

I would caution against generalizing about the issue. Are there abuses in dairy farms? Probably in some cases. Are there good and conscientious dairy farmers? Most likely.

My initial answer would be to check out a local dairy farm (if you have any) & see for yourself. If you live in a state that allows for the sale of raw milk, then it is very easy to actually go & see the operation yourself. This should give you a personal picture of what goes on in a local dairy as opposed to giant corporate dairy farms. But there again I'm not going to generalize & say that all corporate diary farms are bad. Do your own research from a variety of sources & see for yourself.

There are many issues wth dairy farming.

Artificial insemination every year

Cows would naturally calve every 2-3 years. Dairy farms artificially inceminate them every 11 months.

Hormone enriched feed

The feed they are given is enriched with artificial growth foods. these are always made with cattle meat protiens.

Bribe/feed caged carousels

These suck. They are large rotating carousels where the cows are caged in a space where they cannot move. They have "black boxes" on thier legs which communicate with the main operating computer. They are fed just the right amount of food depending on how much milk they gave yesterday. They have added growth food if thier production drops

One person can milk about 400 cattle on a carousel so there is no time for checking the animals health - they just milk them dry and kick them out.

killing bulls, excess calves and free martins at 1 week old

All bulls are killed at 1 week old. They do not keep any back for breeding as they bring in new blood lines. In the UK we don't use dairy bull calves for veal anymore.

They kill all free martins as there is a good chance they will be barren

Strangly, they feel these animals with colostrum at birth to keep them alive, but then kill them a week later.

excess feeding to produce 60 lites of milk per day

The growth food is all designed to produce excess milk. Cows are naturally designed to produce about 15 litres.

intensive rearing means low husbandry checks

As mentioned above, most automatic dairies have one milkmaid per session, thats it. I know a dairy farm with 1200 cattle and 3 employees. Tell me how they can every check the cattle....Talking to one farmer last night ( at our farmers season dinner ) he has just lost 17 cattle in 2 months. He only phoned DEFRA after the tenth one died, until then, he didn't care why they died, it was just a fact of business to him.

removing calves from mothers after colostrum feed

This is stressful, cows bawl for weeks for thier young, calling them to be fed. Obviously the calve cannot "run to mom" because its in dog food by now.

killing the cow at 7 years old

Cows can naturally live to 20 years old. Production dairy cows are killed after 4-6 births so are never kept after 7 years old.

If in the US check with your state farm bureau there's a local office in most counties, also the main ag college in most states have extensions in most counties. These would be the first people to check with to see about anything like this in your area if interested.

Long feet nails are much better than short. I have grown mine to 5 cm!!

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I like short, trimmed nails much more than I like long nails. The actual only time I like seeing long nails is if they're painted, because I think they look disgusting with no. They look like long claws to be able to me.

Depends on the techniques. The Dinka in Africa almost worship their cattle. They even sing to them. It is close like dog and man. They ride them too. This is a wonderful occupation for animal lovers.