In order to maintain uninterrupted milk production, cows are forced year after year to go through an endless cycle of pregnancy and birth, only to have their calves immediately taken from them. Cows and calves cry out for each other as they are separated.

All forms of dairy farming involve forcibly impregnating cows. This involves a person inserting his arm far into the cow’s rectum in order to position the uterus, and then forcing an instrument into her vagina. The restraining apparatus used is commonly called a “rape rack.”

Half of all calves born are male. Of no use in milk production, they are sent to veal-producing operations or directly to auctions where they are sold and slaughtered when they are just a few days old. Male calves used for veal production suffer a crude castration process and are killed after 4 months spent in small crates or pens.

After just 4 to 6 years, dairy cows are “spent” from being forced to continuously produce milk. Often weak and ill, they endure transport to auction and slaughter, both of which are traumatic for these gentle animals. If allowed to exist free of exploitation and slaughter, cows can live 25 years or more.

To download this slideshow as a pdf file, click here.

To download this slideshow as a powerpoint file, click here.

To add this slideshow to your website, copy and paste the embed code below. (Clicking once in the code field will select it all.)

Slide show notes:

The sources for the industry depiction of the animals who are used to produce dairy products and the people who consume them are here and here.

The sources of the "Humane" labels:
Certified Humane
American Humane Certified
Animal Compassionate
Animal Welfare Approved
Freedom Food

The Humane Choice press release is here.

The material on artificial insemination was based on an interview with Harold Brown of Farm Kind.

The list of restaurants serving “uncrated” veal published by an animal advocacy organization is here.

To learn more about Wolfgang Puck's collaboration with some animal advocacy organizations, see this link.

For more information on veal sales going up in response to “humane” labeling, see this article.

For more information on the connection between animal agribusiness and global warming see this link.