Milked to Death: Dairy Farm Nightmares
The dairy industry in Japan looks the same as it does everywhere else in the world: a cruel hellhole where cows suffer immensely. So instead of choosing cows’ milk, let’s upgrade to healthy, cruelty-free, vegan alternatives.
During a recent PETA exposé of a farm in Japan, one-third of the cows were found to be lame. Some were forced to lie in their own waste, unable to stand. Injured cows who were scheduled to be sent for slaughter were not given any treatment. A worker was seen kicking a cow who couldn’t walk into the milking parlour, after the helpless animal had recently given birth. Workers routinely prodded and hit cows with shovels, metal poles, or wooden sticks. The animals were also sprayed with water and their tails were twisted in attempts to force them into the milking parlour. Some cows suffered from abomasal displacement, a painful and life-threatening condition. The cows were continually milked to maximise profits – despite their poor health.
Mournful Cries Echo Across Farms
On this farm, a mother cow desperately called out to her young calf, who had been taken from her an hour after birth. Her mournful cries echoed across the farm, showing the profound emotional bond between mother and baby – a bond ignored by the dairy industry.
Just like humans, cows form strong bonds with their family and friends – they even shed tears when their loved ones die. The bond between mother and calf is exceptionally powerful, yet workers separate them shortly after birth in order to steal their milk.
Prolonged Standing, Premature Deaths
A cow’s typical lifespan is around 20 years, yet those exploited in the dairy industry are often killed at age 5 due to the strain of constant pregnancy and lactation. Research shows nearly half of these cows become lame before their premature death – primarily as a result of prolonged standing on concrete floors and unsanitary living conditions.
Japan Uncovered Once More
These findings mirror those uncovered in 2022 at Ibaraki Prefectural Livestock Research Centre, where PETA Asia exposed chilling scenes of workers twisting red-hot irons into calves’ heads without giving the animals pain relief and kicking, punching, and slapping cows – prompting a complaint to federal authorities. No matter the farm or the country in question, the suffering of cows in the dairy industry remains constant.
You Have the Power to Spare Cows
We must stop supporting the dairy industry, not just in Japan but all over the world. Regardless of the country or misleading “high welfare” labels, the dairy industry will continue to exploit cows for their flesh and milk – unless we do something about it. The most effective way to help spare these animals is to go vegan today.
