Cows

Nearly 5 million mother cows in New Zealand are made to endure a cycle of pregnancy, birth, separation and milking so that the dairy industry can sell her milk for human consumption. Every year, around 4 million calves are separated from their mothers soon after birth. Female calves will go on to replace their mothers in the milking shed, and up to 2 million male calves (known as ‘bobby calves’) are simply killed and disposed of, considered ‘waste products’ of the dairy industry. Investigations in 2015 and 2016 exposed the appalling treatment of New Zealand’s calves, leaving many caring Kiwis shocked and wanting to take action.

Cows raised for beef may be kept in cramped and unnatural feedlots to be fattened for slaughter. Over 4.7 million cows were killed for human consumption in 2021 in New Zealand.

Calves used to produce veal are killed while they are still babies at a few months old. Since 2017, hundreds of farms have been infected with the Mycoplasma bovis disease which causes painful lameness, mastitis, and late-term abortion for cows. The Ministry for Primary Industries have struggled to contain the outbreak, leading to a devastating loss of life of over 170,000 cows and costing more than $200 million in compensation paid to farmers.

Cows kept in intensive winter grazing systems have no protection from the weather ‒ they are forced to live and often give birth in wet, muddy paddocks, exposed to the elements. Cows left in muddy paddocks can struggle to access clean drinking water and adequate feed, causing thirst, hunger and distress. Intensive winter grazing not only harms animals but degrades the soil until it can no longer support life or prevent pollution from entering our waterways.

The market for plant-based foods is rapidly growing and now your food choices can align with your values. Protein, iron and calcium are abundant in plants, and you can nourish your body without harming animals. From burger patties and sausages to cheese and ice cream, meat and dairy alternatives are not only delicious, they save lives. Need help getting started? We’ve got you covered.