Why Horse Milk Isn’t for Humans
Have you heard of horse milk ice cream? Don’t be duped: consuming horse milk – or the milk of any other animal – is a terrible idea. From ethical concerns to health implications, there are several reasons to keep this cruelly obtained secretion out of your mouth.
1. You Are Not a Foal
Let’s start with the basics. Horse milk provides all the essential nutrients that a foal needs to help them develop and thrive. Foals are born weighing around 45 kilograms and can grow to a staggering 1,000 kilograms. To support their growth, they require the unique nutritional profile of their mother’s milk, which is perfectly tailored to their needs.
Humans are an entirely different species with distinct nutritional requirements. Our bodies are not designed to process nutrients in the same way that foals do, and drinking horses’ milk can lead to various nutritional imbalances. Just as we wouldn’t expect a foal to thrive on human breast milk, we shouldn’t expect horse milk to be suited to humans. It’s a mismatch that nature never intended.
2. Horses Are Not Milk Machines
Horses are intelligent, social individuals with their own unique personalities and needs. Did you know that horses use different vocalisations to communicate greetings, departures, mating calls, and danger? Mother horses also make a deep soothing sound when nursing their babies, as if singing a lullaby. Like all mammals, horses produce milk solely to nourish their young – they do so because they are mothers, not machines.
Across the UK and Ireland, thousands of horses are already exploited in various ways, most notably in the horse racing industry. They are often pushed to their physical limits, and the toll can be devastating. Every year, around 200 horses are killed on and off British racetracks and numerous others are sent to slaughter when they’re no longer profitable to the industry.
This grim reality underscores the need to reevaluate how we treat these animals. Instead of seeking new ways to exploit horses, such as using them for milk, we should focus on ending the industries that abuse and kill them. Horses don’t deserve to be harmed and exploited and should be free to express their natural behaviour.
3. Stealing Milk From Other Animals Is Immoral
Other animals’ milk is simply not ours to take. The milk produced by a mare is meant for her foal, not for human consumption. Stealing it is an act of speciesism – the erroneous belief that humans are superior to and have the right to exploit other species. This mindset, which assumes that the rights and needs of other animals are less important than those of humans, leads to the unjust treatment of others. There is absolutely no need to consume horses’ bodily fluids, so please leave mares in peace.
4. Plants Are the Healthiest Choice
Rather than drinking milk from horses or other animals – which is produced by mothers for their young – opt for oat, almond, soya, or other plant milks. These products are crafted by humans for humans and align with our nutritional needs.
A plant-based diet has proved to offer numerous health benefits. It can reduce an individual’s risk of developing serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Additionally, vegan foods can support your immune system and improve gut health.
If you’re serious about your health, it’s high time you cut out animal-derived foods altogether and embraced the wide variety of nutritious plant foods available.
5. We Don’t Need to Exploit Animals
Instead of exploring new ways of exploiting other species, we must move away from animal agriculture. Right now, billions of cows, chickens, pigs, and other sentient beings are enduring almost unimaginable suffering on farms around the globe. They’re confined, mistreated, and ultimately killed so humans can steal their flesh, eggs, or milk.
Humans must stop exploiting and killing animals. Not only is this the ethical choice, it’s also better for the planet. Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of the climate catastrophe and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. So please, stay away from the mammary fluids and flesh of all living, feeling beings. It’s better for animals, the planet, and your health.
What About Cows’ Milk?
Drinking a cow’s mammary secretions is just as weird as drinking those of a mare. Cows’ milk is intended for calves, who grow rapidly in their first months of life. Their mother’s milk is tailored to support this growth, providing high levels of fat and protein that are not suited to human physiology. Behind every glass of cows’ milk or cone of dairy ice cream is a heartbroken mother who was separated from her baby so humans could steal the milk that was meant for them.
A human has no need to consume cows’ milk, and there are plenty of plant-based options available to enjoy instead.
Please, don’t contribute to this cycle of exploitation. Choose plant milks to spare cows and other animals.
Searching for Ways to Boost Your Health? Go Vegan!
If you’re looking to boost your health, going vegan is a fantastic choice. From creamy oat ice cream to delicious cashew cheese, there are countless vegan products that will satisfy your taste buds without clogging your arteries or subjecting animals to misery. These plant-based foods are tasty and packed with nutrients that support a healthy lifestyle.
