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Extremely surprised, in a good way, to wake up to an NYT science section article confronting basic — but controversial and uncomfortable and few people want to think about them — facts about using cows to produce milk. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/29/science/dairy-farming-cows-milk.html
Full disclosure: for the first four decades of my life, I didn't realize that supermarket milk comes from cows whose babies are taken from them within minutes of birth. (Nor that the moms are killed when their bodies start wearing out, even though they're still young.)
I guess I thought that cows just walked around making milk, even without babies? Or something?
It's embarrassing to admit that I was so biology-defyingly ignorant. But I just didn't think much about milk beyond enjoying it and being annoyed at artisanal gruyere prices.
It's embarrassing to admit that I was so biology-defyingly ignorant. But I just didn't think much about milk beyond enjoying it and being annoyed at artisanal gruyere prices.
Turns out this is pretty normal. Most milk consumers don't actually know where it comes from.
See @cla_sc et al https://mdpi.com/2076-2615/7/12/89/htm @drsassenach et al https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0154733 Hötzel et al https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030217301935
See @cla_sc et al https://mdpi.com/2076-2615/7/12/89/htm @drsassenach et al https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0154733 Hötzel et al https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030217301935
You needn't be an animal rights activist to have deep concerns about this. Industrial dairy practices run contrary to values held by most milk consumers.
(Useful reading: Kathryn Gillespie's "The Cow with Ear Tag #1389", here excerpted in @NautilusMag) http://nautil.us/issue/66/clockwork/a-eulogy-for-a-cow?source=blogsjustin.com&utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication
(Useful reading: Kathryn Gillespie's "The Cow with Ear Tag #1389", here excerpted in @NautilusMag) http://nautil.us/issue/66/clockwork/a-eulogy-for-a-cow?source=blogsjustin.com&utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication
So what is a right relationship to cows? What does reciprocity—fairness, kindness—demand?
Can we let cow families & friends stay together, living normal lifespans in good environments, and still have milk?
(Editors: When my book is done, I'd love to write about this for you!)
Can we let cow families & friends stay together, living normal lifespans in good environments, and still have milk?
(Editors: When my book is done, I'd love to write about this for you!)
/Thread.
