We have been able to negotiate a great rate for the ad – $11,300. Our fundraiser goal is $5,650 as we are fortunate to have a generous donor who has agreed to match what we raise. However we must meet our full goal to obtain the matching funds.
This ad will portray to readers the reality of life for dairy cows, in particular the mothers’ loss of their baby calves.
A common misconception is that cows naturally produce milk at all times and must be milked. Also that their life on the dairy farm is one of leisure and peace, with cows and their calves frolicking in green pastures. These are myths created by the dairy industry.
The truth is that cows, like all female mammals, must give birth in order to produce milk. Like human mothers, they carry their babies for nine months, and then begin to lactate for the sole purposes of nourishing their calves. However cows on dairy farms, including organic ones, are kept in a continual state of pregnancy, in order to produce a constant supply of milk for human consumption. To keep their lactation at maximum yields, cows are forcibly and artificially inseminated year after year. They live crammed together in barns.
Nearly all dairy calves are stolen from their mother shortly after birth. Cows are known to be one of the world’s most protective, gentle and nurturing mothers. Mother cows will cry and search for their newborn for many days and nights; and have been known to hide their calves from farmers.
Female calves are enslaved back into dairy production to replace their mothers once their milk production slows and they are sent for slaughter. Most male calves, and even some females are killed at birth, or sent to auction with their umbilical cord still hanging, and are sold for veal. They will spend their short lives chained up in small hutches.
After 3-4 years of intensive milk production, which is far from their natural lifespan of 20-30 years, dairy cows are sold at auctions for slaughter, and end up as ground beef, restaurant hamburgers or pet food.
Male calves not destined for slaughter are sold to veal farmers, who chain the newborn calves inside small crates where they cannot move or lie down comfortably. For approximately 20 weeks, the isolated calves are fed a liquid diet, deficient in iron, and nowhere near as nutritious as their mother’s milk.
It is impossible to humanely kill someone who wants to live. The only way we can truly be humane toward dairy cows, is for people to stop consuming meat and dairy, and switch to widely available plant based milk alternatives.
In addition to donating we really need your help to share this campaign via social media to get the message out. Please share with your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Let’s put an end to the violence and suffering occurring every day in the Canadian dairy industry.