I just drove past a field of cows and there were babies too. The calfs we’re so cute! But it got me thinking… When cows make milk it usually goes to their babies, right? So how is it that we have constant stores of milk and cheese at the supermarket? Do we only get milk from cows who’s calfs didn’t make it (passed away)? Or is it that cows always have milk so it’s no big deal if we take it instead of it going to a calf? Need some dairy farmers to help me out with this one please!
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Howdy all, I just want to throw my hat in the ring here. I milked cows and lived in a dairy barn for 4 years. It’s hard work. And I respect the hell out of all our cows for working hard too. To answer your questions from personal and professional experience.
1) There are many different breeds of cattle, like dogs. Some are better for certain purposes. For cows that produce milk the most common is a Holstein (Typical black and white moo moo).
2) Humans have been milking cows since the very beginning of our agricultural days. Thousands of years. Over this long period of time we’ve bred cattle to produce more and more milk. During the 1900s farmers started to selectively breed cows that could produce more milk. Much more milk than a baby calf could ever hope to drink.
3) Yes we do take away the babies from their mothers, and I’ll address this at a later point. But this is done for a variety of reasons. Most certainly NOT to simply “Get more milk”.
Here are some benefits to removing a calf from her mother.
Not all cows are good mothers. I’ve seen some immediately forget their babies and move straight to a food bin. Never to give a second thought. I’ve seen some babes get their heads stomped in by their moms. We take them away not only for their own safety, but also so we can give them a STANDARD of care. This includes vaccines, colostrum, warmth and blankets, and a soft bed. These are just a few benefits.
4) The boys are shipped to veal farms and that is their purpose. I understand the ethical implications, but simply there is no demand for male dairy cattle. Their meat quality is poor and we don’t need many of them for breeding purposes.
5) We keep the girls and raise them to be a part of the farm. They are fed different things depending on what kind of farm you run. Some are fed milk from the cows in the farm. Some are fed a formula. This is once again to provide a STANDARD of care. Some cows individual milk is not good for their babies, can carry immune disorders and other factors. We don’t let them nurse off the mother for a variety of reasons.
Their mouths are gross. And can easily infect mom.
Mom is much more comfortable being milked by a machine.
Letting them nurse off their own mothers will inadvertently bring down overall production. Dairy farms are a business.
6) Cows do not forever produce milk. Much like people they will “Dry off” if there is no demand for it. Milk corresponds with pregnancy, birth and raising young. A typical cow will produce milk for 250-300 days before being given a break. This is then followed by a 2-3 month dry period where they are allowed to eat, relax and prepare for birth all over again.
Just to clarify. I love cows. They fascinate me and I hold a deep respect for them. They work so hard and I know many dairy farmers who break their backs treating their girls better than themselves. Healthy happy cows produce more milk. Stress itself drops milk production like a rock and good farmers are always trying to minimize that. Bad farmers don’t stay in business long.
There are ethical concerns to this industry, like I’ve mentioned. Unlike cows it’s not black and white. It’s very grey. I’d love to keep talking about it and I can keep answering questions if people have them.
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