etic manipulation and intensive production technologies cows can produce 100 pounds of milk a day. This is ten times more than they would produce naturally.The male calves that are borne from the dairy cows endure 14 to 17 weeks of torment in veal crates that are rarely bigger than the size of their bodies. Female calves often times take their worn-out mother’s place in line or are slaughtered soon after birth for the rennet in their stomachs. Rennet is an ingredient of most commercial cheeses. Farmers will artificially inseminate cows to keep their production as high as possible. They are also fed BGH, the bovine growth hormone, to stimulate the production of milk. The cows must be milked more often than they would naturally so their udders become painful and so heavy that they sometimes drag on the ground. Milking machines are also used to replace human labor. They sometimes cause cuts, injuries, and electric shocks to the cow’s udders. Frequently, infections occur and so antibiotics are used, contaminating the cow’s milk.Ingrid Newkirk, the President of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says “Knowing how cows suffer in the dairy industry is enough to make anyone lactose intolerant. With so many delicious, healthful alternatives available, like fresh juices, soy milk, and yes, even beer, it’s easy to dump the dairy.” According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American consumes more than 550 pounds of dairy products annually, which is 40 percent of the bulk of the food we eat. This would suggest that giving up dairy is not at easy as Newkirk makes it sound. The average American diet consists of several dairy products that are incorporated into daily meals. There are alternatives, though.“Non-dairy ‘milks,’ like Amazake and Rice Dream rice milks and Edensoy, Westbrae and White Wave silk soy milks, can be used in place of cow’s m...
