The sad by-products of the dairy industry. . .

People often ask us, "What's wrong with milk?" On a very basic level, in order to drink cow's milk, a female cow must be kept pregnant and deliver babies over and over, until after a short fraction of her normal lifespan, she is "spent" and sent to slaughter for cheap meat. Calves born to dairy cows are separated from their mothers immediately after birth. The half that are born female are raised to replace older dairy cows in the milking herd. The other half of the calves are male, and because they will never produce milk, they are raised and slaughtered for meat. Most are killed for beef, with close to one million being used for veal.

The veal industry was created as a by-product of the dairy industry to take advantage of an abundant supply of unwanted male calves. Veal calves commonly live for eighteen to twenty weeks in wooden crates that are so small that they cannot turn around, stretch their legs, or even lie down comfortably. The calves are fed a liquid milk substitute, deficient in iron and fiber, which is designed to make the animals anemic, resulting in the light-colored flesh that is prized as veal. In addition to this high-priced veal, some calves are killed at just a few days old to be sold as low-grade 'bob' veal for products like frozen TV dinners.

Every baby deserves affection, security, warmth, its mother's love, and compassion. Every animal deserves life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (other than, perhaps, a wanderlust dieting beagle named Ellie). At least we think so.

Visiting Norman Borders (right) in Orland, CA
March 2010