A Dairy's Dirty Secrets

by Tara Lohan · 2010-01-27 14:07:00 UTC
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There's nothing worse than being a cheese lover and seeing videos like this one that appeared last night on ABC's Nightline. The footage came from undercover work done by Mercy for Animals and reveals horrific abuse in one of New York state's largest dairies, a 5,000 cow operation called Willet Dairy.

The video shows gross animal welfare abuses and also reveals the dire conditions that many farm animals face in the industrial system that produces the majority our of dairy products by raising animals in factory farms.

If you can stomach watching the footage or even just reading about it, you're likely to want to change your consumer practices. After all, who'd want to be giving their money to an operation like Willet Dairy? There are two choices -- one is to cut dairy from your diet, and there are many places that offer resources and information about that. The other is to seek alternatives: Industrial dairies aren't the only game in town — just the biggest.

While large dairies are on the rise, even some with herd sizes of over 10,000 animals, there are family farmers who are bucking the trend and raising their animals in more humane conditions and returning the animals to pasture, which ensures them room to roam and a natural diet. These farmers are also doing away with the use of bovine growth hormones, unnecessary antibiotics, and the inhumane practice of tail-docking. They're also lowering the milking yields.

So how do you find these "graziers," as many are called? You can start by going on-line and checking out places like the Eat Well Guide, which can help you locate dairies in your area. You can also visit your local health food store or co-op and see if they have local recommendations. And if you find a dairy in your area, ask to take a trip out to their farm to see the conditions for yourself. Of course, if there is an option to buy directly from a farmer via a farmer's market or Community Support Agriculture program, that's usually best.

While organic labels on dairy ensure healthier products, they don't always translate into top-notch conditions for animals. The best bet, if you're looking at labels, is the Animal Welfare Institute's 'Animal Welfare Approved' label. Their "standards ensure that cattle graze on green pastures; sows can build nests before giving birth; ducks are always able to swim in clean water; and chickens can forage, dust-bathe and spread their wings," they report. You can learn more details about it on their website.

Here's to more conscious eating!

Photo credit: fczuardi

Tara Lohan is a senior editor at AlterNet.org where she heads up the environment, water, and food sections. Her work has appeared on the websites of The Nation, Mother Jones, the Huffington Post and in Yes! Magazine.
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