Cows bond closely with their herd and have the ability to nurture friendships. They can anticipate the future and experience pain, fear and anxiety, which makes the abuses of factory farms all the more cruel. We like to imagine cows grazing on rolling green pastures, but most of the estimated nine million dairy cows in the United States are confined either indoors or in dirt feedlots without a blade of grass. And veal calves live their lives tethered or chained by the neck in tiny crates where they can barely move.
The U.S. dairy industry subjects cows to cruel treatment that includes repeated impregnation, overproduction of milk, restrictive housing and poor nutrition. Cows’ welfare could be vastly improved by providing more available space, opportunities for exercise and access to pasture to help avoid the health, stress and behavioral problems associated with confinement and feed concentration. Veal calves are often separated from their mothers shortly after birth and shipped to a producer, where they live for four or five months before slaughter.
Cows display their emotions in subtle ways. A low ear position and cool nose, for example, mean that a cow is feeling good.
One day a week can make a world of difference for your health, animals and the environment! Start by trying a new vegetable-packed dish or swap your usual entrée with a plant-based meat alternative.