this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2025
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The livestock industry — not just Fairlife — has long portrayed dairy as an essential, wholesome product from cows who just happen to be producing milk on quaint, green pastures. But cows on dairy farms, even when they’re not overtly abused like those seen in undercover investigations into Fairlife, still face severe welfare issues because of the very nature of dairy production.

Today’s cows have been bred to produce far more milk than they naturally would, which greatly taxes their bodies. They’re (artificially) impregnated each year — another physical stressor — to induce milk production. After they give birth, their calves are quickly taken away so that humans can take their mothers’ milk.

Newborn calves are then confined alone in tiny hutches. Females go on to become dairy cows once they’re sexually mature, while the male calves are dehorned and castrated — often without pain relief — and sold off to become veal or beef.

Most dairy cows have little to no access to pasture and spend their lives confined indoors or on dirt feedlots. Naturally, they might live to 15 to 20 years of age, but by 5 or 6 years old, when bodies give out and their milk yield wanes, they’re sent off to slaughter.

Many of these practices have become standard on dairy farms of all sizes — not just on mega dairies. It’s a reality far different from what consumers often see in advertisements and on milk bottles.

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[–] buddascrayon@lemmy.world 18 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Fun fact, you cannot commit animal abuse on a soybean, coconut, rice, wheat, or oat grains.

Fuck dairy

[–] godfish@lemy.lol 8 points 3 days ago (2 children)

No fan of dairy either. But soy bean production is very problematic for animals. Especially how its farmed in south america.

[–] buddascrayon@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So because one country isn't using machines to farm their soybeans and uses animals instead we should ignore the fact that an entire industry commits horrifying abuse across the board?

Because literally everywhere else soybean farming has been mechanized.

[–] godfish@lemy.lol 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

No we can not ignore the horrid abuse of animals. It is the reason I pointed out that soybeans ain't cool either. There is a shitton of deforestation happening which is killing animal habitats.

Soymilk is not the solution to the problem. That's all I was saying.

Edit: And I was not talking about mechanization. That was not the point I am tried to make.

[–] undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch -1 points 3 days ago
[–] garretble@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago

Oat milk is the GOAT milk.

[–] etherphon@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago

Another shitty grift, the American economy is at least 50% grift at this point I swear, because there's little consequence for all of this but major profits. I barely want to participate in this economy anymore it's just fucking mental.

[–] Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world 30 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I feel like this has been dairy industry standard practice for decades. Is this new?

[–] MrMcGasion@lemmy.world 19 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Grew up in the great plains/midwest around the dairy industry. Had extended family who owned a smaller dairy farm. This all sounds pretty standard. Not saying it's right, but none of it sounds new to me.

I would imagine there were plenty of people who bought modern marketing that was designed to cruelty-wash the dairy industry. The reality is there's no way to insert yourself between an udder and a calf without cruelty, and that's the only way to get cow's milk. Unless we can figure out how to get milk from lab-grown organs, which probably comes with it's own ethical issues.

[–] Frigidlollipop@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

Coworker has a cow/calf pair. The cow and calf do get separated in the morning, but after milking they are turned out together on pasture for the rest of the day. Of course, most folks aren't lucky enough to have the space or means (or desire) to raise their own food the way they want. I have friends who love milk but cant stand the sight of an udder... funny. In their words, it is "better not to think about it." Wild. My dream has always been to have a homestead, so I cant imagine the thinking...

I've helped out on smaller dairy farms around VT and after milking they are allowed to wander out where they want. If they don't get milked they can get infections and such.

[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I hate to break it to you but this isn't new.

[–] undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch -2 points 3 days ago

Then downvote it and move on?

[–] humanoidchaos@lemmy.cif.su 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Cows need to be pregnant to produce milk, so they're artificially inseminated throughout most of their lives.

Also, most people can't properly digest lactose. Only about 30% of the population has the enzyme required, and most of them are concentrated in Europe/North America.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Good thing Fairlife is lactose free then I guess.

[–] AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net 2 points 4 days ago