5 ms·

What is wrong with milk production? I’m not informed on this. Is it some kind of factory farm horror?

by barbariangrunge 4y ago

FeistySkink 4y ago
Why do you think mammals produce milk?
- nimbleal 4y ago
  “Whys” are hard but arguably —- and not a direct answer to your question of course — the why of cows producing (most of their) milk is analogous to the why of dogs acting cute: it’s for humans.
  - soulofmischief 4y ago
    They produce milk because they have been impregnated. Think about the implications of this at scale for the lifetime of a dairy cow.
    - nimbleal 4y ago
      The “unto what end” vs “due to what cause” definition of “why“ but, yes — I’m aware.
tashoecraft 4y ago
Basically. Every part of the animal livestock system at scale is a horror. If you can get from small, local producers then that’s great. But the factory farm system for anything meat, dairy poultry is hard to stomach.
- nimbleal 4y ago
  Although I understand it differs hugely by country, so worth investigating your own location. Not everywhere is as horrible as the US in this regard.
ElijahLynn 4y ago
Basically, milk production is the act of raping a cow, then taking her baby away so you can steal her milk.
- beeboop 4y ago
  I think "rape" is a bit of a hyperbole here. Yes, the cow is penetrated without consent, but the same is done all the time for rectal exams on all sorts of animals, including cows. Cows don't face trauma and PTSD and emotional harm from this penetration the same way humans do and to compare it to rape is ridiculous.
  - wyre 4y ago
    They are penetrated and inseminated without consent. I don’t understand how that isn’t rape. >Cows don't face trauma and PTSD and emotional harm There is no way we can know this
    - beeboop 4y ago
      Conveniently left out the qualifier immediately following: "the same way humans do" We absolutely know for a fact that animals don't experience trauma the same way and to the same severity as humans. They're literally incapable of human level emotional harm.
      - wyre 4y ago
        Source? It’s easy to go into any humane shelter and see animals with trauma responses. Some short reading: https://forthesciences21003.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2020/05/04/animals-feel-pain/ https://forthesciences21003.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2020/05/04/a...
        beeboop 4y ago
        I am not denying that. I am saying it's not comparable to human trauma. This whole discussion is ridiculous because it hinges on the idea that artificial insemination is traumatic for animals when I would be really hard pressed to believe that when it's done correctly.
jcampbell1 4y ago
Frankly, small scale dairy is worse than factory dairy in many ways. The amount of excess calving required is almost none when bST hormones and sex selected semen are combined. Have you noticed that veal is practically gone from grocery store shelves?
- merry_flame 4y ago
  Isn't it simply because it's exported to places where that meat commands a higher price? Lots of veal here in Europe…

What is wrong with milk production? I’m not informed on this. Is it some kind of factory farm horror?

FeistySkink 4y ago

Why do you think mammals produce milk?

nimbleal 4y ago
“Whys” are hard but arguably —- and not a direct answer to your question of course — the why of cows producing (most of their) milk is analogous to the why of dogs acting cute: it’s for humans.
- soulofmischief 4y ago
  They produce milk because they have been impregnated. Think about the implications of this at scale for the lifetime of a dairy cow.
  - nimbleal 4y ago
    The “unto what end” vs “due to what cause” definition of “why“ but, yes — I’m aware.

tashoecraft 4y ago

Basically. Every part of the animal livestock system at scale is a horror. If you can get from small, local producers then that’s great. But the factory farm system for anything meat, dairy poultry is hard to stomach.

nimbleal 4y ago
Although I understand it differs hugely by country, so worth investigating your own location. Not everywhere is as horrible as the US in this regard.

ElijahLynn 4y ago

Basically, milk production is the act of raping a cow, then taking her baby away so you can steal her milk.

beeboop 4y ago
I think "rape" is a bit of a hyperbole here. Yes, the cow is penetrated without consent, but the same is done all the time for rectal exams on all sorts of animals, including cows. Cows don't face trauma and PTSD and emotional harm from this penetration the same way humans do and to compare it to rape is ridiculous.
- wyre 4y ago
  They are penetrated and inseminated without consent. I don’t understand how that isn’t rape. >Cows don't face trauma and PTSD and emotional harm There is no way we can know this
  - beeboop 4y ago
    Conveniently left out the qualifier immediately following: "the same way humans do" We absolutely know for a fact that animals don't experience trauma the same way and to the same severity as humans. They're literally incapable of human level emotional harm.
    - wyre 4y ago
      Source? It’s easy to go into any humane shelter and see animals with trauma responses. Some short reading: https://forthesciences21003.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2020/05/04/animals-feel-pain/ https://forthesciences21003.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2020/05/04/a...
      - beeboop 4y ago
        I am not denying that. I am saying it's not comparable to human trauma. This whole discussion is ridiculous because it hinges on the idea that artificial insemination is traumatic for animals when I would be really hard pressed to believe that when it's done correctly.

jcampbell1 4y ago

Frankly, small scale dairy is worse than factory dairy in many ways. The amount of excess calving required is almost none when bST hormones and sex selected semen are combined. Have you noticed that veal is practically gone from grocery store shelves?

merry_flame 4y ago
Isn't it simply because it's exported to places where that meat commands a higher price? Lots of veal here in Europe…