SAFE Animal Squad
“Producing the peak yield of 35 litres of milk per day has been compared to a person jogging for six hours, seven days a week.” [1].
As with the farming of several other species, dairy farming in particular has intensified over time. Improved genetics and nutrition have resulted in a 2-3% annual increase in milk production per cow in Western countries [2]. New Zealand dairy cows are typically hooked up to a milking machine twice (or, increasingly, once) a day, and produced, on average, over 4,200 litres of milk annually by 2014-2015. The pressure of full udders can cause substantial discomfort.
This was 18% more than a decade previously [3]. Genetic selection for increased productivity has resulted in the diversion of a greater proportion of biological resources into milk and muscle production, in dairy and beef cattle respectively. This means that less are available for maintenance (which results in many dairy cows being chronically hungry), or for immune function, to support tissue repair, or to respond to stressful stimuli. Unsurprisingly, therefore, rates of some diseases appear to be increasing, including reproductive problems (such as failure to conceive), mastitis (udder inflammation), lameness and metritis (uterine inflammation).
Moving away from dairy is a choice that benefits animals, our planet and our health. There’s never been a better time to go dairy-free. Whether you’re looking for tips on the best plant-based cheese or ice cream or on the lookout for new dairy-free recipe ideas, we’ve got you covered!
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