Published Letters and Op-Eds from
COK’s Writers Group

Farms Abuse Cows

Published in the Star Press on May 28, 2005.

Dear Editor,

Mega-dairies not only harm the way of life for area residents: They routinely abuse animals ("Dairy CAFO hearing becomes emotional," May 26).

In order to maximize the amount of milk each cow produces, farmers artificially inseminate them every year and load their bodies with hormones and antibiotics. This constant birthing cycle coupled with massive quantities of drugs takes a toll on dairy cows. Their exhausted bodies are often "spent" after just five years. (The natural life of a cow is about 25 years.)

To make matters worse, male calves born in the dairy industry are unfortunate byproducts who are forced to live their short lives inside crates so small, they can't even turn around. After four months of constant confinement and a nutritionally deficient diet, these baby cows are killed, and their sickly, pale flesh is marketed as veal.

Whether we're concerned about our own quality of life or that of millions animals, we'd all be better off without factory farms.

Erica Meier
Director, Compassion Over Killing
Takoma Park, MD