What Happens to Calves on Dairy Farms
Image: WeAnimals Media
Not all online discussions are fruitless. During a recent social media exchange, a non-vegan unwittingly exposed a significant blind spot in the ongoing debate over 'ethical' milk production. “What if I owned and cared for a dairy cow personally?” they asked, attempting to justify dairy consumption but overlooking a basic fact: to produce milk, a cow needs a calf.
Cows, like all mammals, must give birth to initiate lactation. However, once the mother 'dries up,' she is inseminated again, perpetuating a continuous cycle of pregnancy and calving.(1) The industrialized scale of modern dairy operations leads to an excess of calves born annually, surpassing the industry's ability to integrate them as replacements for their mothers. Consequently, farmers are burdened with an overwhelming number of animals, often resulting in neglect and mistreatment.(2)
To address this surplus, dairy farmers often resort to selling their excess calves to ‘calf rearing facilities.’ In a previous post, we explored the interconnectedness of the dairy and beef industries, highlighting how calves form a crucial part of the modern meat supply chain. In this post, we examine the hidden realities and silent struggles endured by the often-overlooked victims of the dairy industry.
The Tale of Calf Luna
To understand the challenges calves face in the industrialized dairy industry, let us take a look at a calf's natural needs and experiences after birth. In environments resembling their evolutionary background and natural behavior repertoire, calves depend on their mothers for love and support, forging crucial bonds that are essential to their well-being.(3) The story of Luna, a baby calf born in a sanctuary, shows the striking contrast between nature and farming.
In the sanctuary, Luna's journey from birth to maturity mirrors the natural rhythms and dynamics of a wild herd, albeit within the safe confines of human care and compassion.(4)
Birth: Within the sanctuary's tranquil confines, Luna's birth is a cherished moment, with her mother finding solace in a secluded corner. Surrounded by the gentle rustle of leaves and the soothing sounds of nature, Luna enters the world, guided by instinct and nurtured by the supportive presence of sanctuary staff.
Upbringing: From the moment of her birth, Luna is enveloped in the nurturing care of her mother and the collective support of the sanctuary community. Her mother tenderly cleans her newborn offspring, forging a bond strengthened by the sanctuary's atmosphere of love and compassion.
As Luna grows, she learns from the elder residents of the sanctuary, observing their behaviors and interactions with curiosity and awe. Playful romps with fellow sanctuary residents strengthen social bonds and help Luna develop essential skills, preparing her for a life of freedom and contentment within the sanctuary's bounds.
Under the watchful eye of her mother and the supportive embrace of the sanctuary community, Luna matures into a confident and resilient individual, embodying the spirit of compassion and coexistence that defines life within the sanctuary.
The Tale of Calf Emma
On large-scale dairies, where most of our milk comes from, calves often endure harsher conditions and practices. Let's compare Luna's sanctuary life with the reality faced by thousands of calves born on dairy farms in North America. Meet Emma, a calf born under the watchful eyes of a dairy farmer.
Birth and Separation: Emma, a calf born into the bustling environment of a commercial dairy farm, experiences a stark contrast from the natural social environment enjoyed by her ancestors. Concrete floors and metal enclosures and the sheer scale of operations often leaves little room for the nurturing care mother cows instinctively provide, as they too are subject to the rigors of production demands.
Commercially reared calves are typically separated from their dams within hours of birth and often housed individually until weaning. This separation, aimed at preventing disease transmission and ensuring timely colostrum intake, deprives the calf of vital social interactions during a sensitive period of development. The practice of individual housing in early life, recognized as a significant welfare issue, denies calves the opportunity to engage in natural social behaviors and form lasting social bonds.(5)
Food Pre-Weaning: Emma's experience with pre-weaning feeding on the large dairy farm diverges significantly from her wild counterparts. In nature, after birth, the cow nurtures her calf through 8–12 suckling bouts per day, fostering crucial social learning as the calf observes and imitates other herd members' feeding behaviors.
In contrast, commercially reared calves are fed milk, either whole milk or milk replacer, 2–3 times per day in limited amounts, typically equating to less than 15% of their body weight. The rationale behind this restricted milk diet includes cost considerations and encouraging earlier weaning due to increased solid feed intake.
However, unlike the nurturing experience of nursing from a mother's udder, these calves often drink from rubber feeders attached to machines or buckets, missing out on the vital social interactions and learning opportunities inherent in the natural suckling process. Abnormal oral behaviors, such as sucking of fixtures in the pen or cross-sucking other calves, are common among calves fed limited amounts of milk or from buckets instead of nipples, posing welfare concerns.(6)
Housing Pre-Weaning: Emma's housing situation on the commercial dairy farm presents a stark departure from the natural environment where her wild counterparts thrive. In the wild, calves are born into secluded spaces where they can bond with their mothers and explore their surroundings under her watchful eye.
However, in the commercial dairy setting, Emma finds herself often housed individually. The prevalent use of individual hutches or pens in commercial operations aims to minimize disease transmission and provide thermal comfort, but it falls short of replicating natural conditions. Additionally, the delayed transition to group housing further limits crucial socialization opportunities.
While industry standards outline housing requirements, including space and bedding, there's a growing acknowledgment of the need to provide calves with environments that mimic natural conditions more closely.
Early Life: On a commercial farm, calf Emma undergoes routine practices like dehorning and teat removal, causing profound suffering. These procedures strip vulnerable calves of autonomy, causing both physical and psychological distress. Lack of proper training and inadequate pain relief worsens their agony.
Weaning on large dairy farms is highly standardized, with calves often separated from milk at around 8 weeks old, earlier than in nature. This premature weaning, while reducing costs, can cause distress and compromise calf health, leading to increased vocalizations and decreased play behavior.(7)
In contrast, Luna's upbringing in the sanctuary prioritizes her well-being, free from mutilating procedures commonly undertaken on commercial farms. Sanctuary life allows her to gradually wean herself between 6 and 10 months of age. Interaction with other calves and animals isn't just for fun; it guides her in grazing and selecting feedstuffs safely, aiding in her transition to solid food intake.
If you only looked at the dairy industry, you might think that all practices are done with animals in mind. After all, they are fed, sheltered from extreme weather conditions, and kept in relatively clean barns. However, when we contrast their lives with Luna's and a more natural way of living for cows, the injustices and abusive treatments become glaringly evident. Yet, even this does not encompass the full extent of the cruelty inherent in dairy farming.
The Untold Tale of Calf Bobby
After meeting Luna and Emma, let's read about the untold tale of Bobby, a male calf born on a dairy farm. In an industry prioritizing milk production, surplus calves like Bobby face uncertain fates. While most heifer calves, like Emma, are retained for replacements, males, and some females become surplus, facing either euthanasia or exploitation for profit. Shockingly, a portion of these innocent animals are euthanized at birth, their lives cut short before taking their first breaths. For those who escape immediate euthanasia, their future remains equally bleak, overshadowed by the harsh realities of the dairy industry's profit-driven system.
Rearing practices for unwanted male calves often fall short of even the most basic standards of welfare and care. Delayed colostrum intake, lack of pain control during disbudding, and poor transportation conditions are just a few of the myriad challenges these vulnerable animals must endure. From auction yards to veal farms, their journey is fraught with hardship, with many arriving at their final destination in distressing conditions.(8)
Sold within days of birth, male calves enter various production chains, from veal production to dairy beef. Their value is measured not in terms of compassion or welfare, but in profit margins and market demands. Despite the industry's attempts to portray itself as humane and compassionate, the truth remains: for male dairy calves, exploitation, and suffering are often the only constants in their short lives.
The Tale of ‘Ethical Milk’
Now that we learned about the details of milk production, let's explore the scenario posed in that online exchange. Imagine someone acquiring a cow. Before long, they come to realize that for the cow to yield milk, she must bear a calf. However, when the newborn calf seeks nourishment from its mother, they intervene to collect the milk for themselves. Over time, the cow's milk production dwindles until it ceases entirely. To replenish the milk supply, they must impregnate the cow once more, perpetuating a cycle of births. Now, they find themselves responsible not only for caring for the cow but also for an older calf and soon, another newborn calf. This continuous process underscores a stark reality: the demand for milk perpetuates a cycle of animal exploitation, one that cannot be ethically sustained.
Even in experimental farm settings where calves stay with their mothers, or no cows are killed, the cycle of continuous birth remains. More and more cows are brought into existence to meet the demand for dairy. How can we justify this, both for the animals and the environment?
There is no 'ethical' fix for the dairy industry; the solution lies in transitioning to plant-based alternatives that have long been available. For those ready to take the next step, resources like the Vegan Bootcamp offer guidance and support on the journey toward a more compassionate lifestyle. Let's make that future a reality, one story, one meal, one heart at a time.
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(1) “Key animal welfare issues in commercially raised dairy calves: social environment, nutrition, and painful procedures” Authors: Joao H.C. Costa, Melissa C. Cantor, Nicola A. Adderley, Heather W. Neave [DOI: 10.1139/cjas-2019-0031]
(2) “Condition of surplus dairy calves during marketing: A cross-sectional study” Authors: H.L. Maggard, G.G. Habing, D.L. Renaud, K.L. Proudfoot, Z.A. England, T.-Y. Cheng, D.J. Wilson, M. Moran, J.A. Pempek [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23625]
(3) “Key animal welfare issues in commercially raised dairy calves: social environment, nutrition, and painful procedures” Authors: Joao H.C. Costa, Melissa C. Cantor, Nicola A. Adderley, Heather W. Neave [DOI: 10.1139/cjas-2019-0031]
(4) "Mother Cow Was Rescued From Farm Just In Time To Have Her Baby" (The Dodo) Source: https://www.thedodo.com/on-the-farm/cow-saved-from-dairy-farm-gives-birth
(5) “Views of Western Canadian dairy producers on calf rearing: An interview-based study” Authors: Elizabeth R. Russell, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk, Daniel M. Weary [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21116]
(6) “Effects of weaning strategies on health, hematology, and productivity in Holstein dairy calves” Authors: A.R. Wolfe, P. Rezamand, B.C. Agustinho, D.E. Konetchy, A.H. Laarman [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22738]
(7) “Calf management and welfare in the Canadian and US dairy industries: Where do we go from here?” Authors: S. Roche, D.L. Renaud, C.A. Bauman, D. Short, J. Saraceni, D.F. Kelton [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22793]
(8) “Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves” Authors: Jillian Hendricks, Daniel M. Weary, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22051]