When I spoke to my carer yesterday about his childhood experiences, he proudly told me about his father's dairy cow in Bosnia. His belief that cows are naturally designed to produce milk for humans reminded me again of the endless discussions I have already had: How can we continue to believe that the exploitation of animals can be sustainable and justified?
It took me years to face the truth. I didn't want to admit that even the consumption of "sustainably" produced milk or meat meant animal suffering. At the time, I thought I was a conscious consumer - with a farmer who only slaughtered one animal a week and whose cows grazed on pasture. But what I ignored was the reality behind it: Every animal that is "kept" for human purposes lives a life in the service of humans and ends up in the slaughterhouse. What is supposed to be animal-free about that?
The reality of the dairy industry
The modern dairy industry degrades cows to mere production machines. According to PETA, cows in Germany sometimes produce over 50 litres of milk per day, a quantity that far exceeds what a calf would need. This "pressure to perform" leads to massive health problems such as painful udder inflammation (mastitis), lameness and an enormous loss of energy, which causes the animals to lose weight.
Cows are mammals. They only give milk when they have offspring - just like humans. But instead they are forced into a cycle of artificial insemination, birth and separation from the calf. The calf? A "waste product" that is either sold for fattening or killed if it is male. Female calves become part of the system and experience the same fate as their mothers.
Cruelty to animals is standard
Regardless of the type of farming, whether organic or conventional, animal suffering is omnipresent in milk production. A study funded by the German government (PraeRi) shows that around 35 % of dairy cows on German farms are slaughtered prematurely due to disease. Around 70 % of animals live on concrete or slatted floors, millions are tethered for months on end, often without access to pasture.
Milk and environmental destruction
Milk is not only a disaster for the animals, but also for the environment. Ruminants such as cows emit large amounts of methane, one of the most climate-damaging gases. The average amount of water required to produce one litre of milk is 628 litres, whereas plant-based alternatives such as soya drinks only require around 28 litres. Added to this are rainforest clearances for animal feed and a massive waste of land.
The moral question
It is not only illogical but also immoral that humans are the only species to consume the mother's milk of another species - even into adulthood. Why should the right to life of a cow be worth less than that of a dog? There is no animal husbandry without suffering. And there is no reason to continue consuming milk when plant-based alternatives have long been available everywhere.
What can we do?
The easiest and most sustainable way to end the suffering in the dairy industry is to switch to plant-based alternatives. Whether oat, soya or almond drinks - the choice is huge. And every step away from animal products is a step towards a fairer world for all living beings.
