To mark World Milk Day on June 1, the German Animal Welfare Association is drawing attention to the suffering of animals in the dairy industry. The constant pressure to be efficient and often unacceptable husbandry conditions usually wear out cattle bred for high performance within a few years. Although the animals could live up to 20 years, on average they are slaughtered at just five years old. On its website www.weiljedemahlzeitzählt.de, the association encourages an animal and environmentally friendly diet and provides tips for vegan alternatives to milk, cheese, butter and co.
"With World Milk Day, the dairy industry wants to promote the consumption of milk as a naturally healthy product. But there are a lot of myths and sick animals behind the beautiful appearance - ultimately, the production of milk today is based on suffering and death just like the meat industry and is closely interwoven with it," says Dr. Isabel Knößlsdorfer, specialist for veganism at the German Animal Welfare Association.
ANIMAL SUFFERING FOR HUMAN ENJOYMENT
Around 3.97 million cows in Germany have to give birth to a calf every year in order to produce milk. This is very stressful for the animals: according to studies, they are often too skinny and udder inflammation and metabolic diseases are common. The early separation from their calves is a psychological burden for the cows - they often call for their offspring for days on end. Male calves are economically worthless. They are transported under extreme conditions to other European countries or further afield to third countries, where they are fattened for some time and slaughtered.
The conditions in which dairy cows are kept are also problematic: there are still no specific legal requirements for keeping them. In southern Germany in particular, tethering is still widespread and makes it impossible for cows to move freely, clean themselves, scratch or lie down comfortably. Almost a quarter of cows suffer from lameness - a consequence of constant stabling, dirty walking surfaces and metabolic disorders.
ALTERNATIVES VERSATILE AND SUSTAINABLE
Milk alternatives such as oat, soy or almond drinks, vegan “cream” or nut-based “cheese” can now be found in almost every supermarket. Such products are not only animal-friendly, but also perform significantly better in terms of their eco-balance and the average resources used. If you want to continue consuming milk or dairy products, you can look out for the animal welfare label “Für Mehr Tierschutz” (For More Animal Welfare) from the German Animal Welfare Association. Animals also fare better under the labels of organic associations such as Bioland or Naturland. “However, the most consistent contribution to animal welfare is to buy plant-based alternatives,” says Knößlsdorfer.
Note to editors:
The German Animal Welfare Association dispels myths about milk on its website and provides comprehensive information as well as tips for a vegan lifestyle and recipes: www.weiljedemahlzeitzählt.de/kuhmilch
