Where to buy cruelty free milk

Though concerns about GMOs have made headlines for decades, studies have proven that they are not harmful to human health. So why are we still buying organic milk? It definitely costs more. In the dairy section of the grocery store, several milk producers adorn their cartons with happy-looking cows, some grazing in Edenic settings. However, these pastoral depictions hide an ugly truth: large-scale milk production globally, but also in Canada, is more likely to take place in a factory setting than a green space.

As more people see what really goes on, dairy practices are being described as cruel. In , an undercover video shot by a member of non-profit group Mercy for Animals showed animal abuse at a B. It was so horrific that it moved Lino Saptuto Jr. In recognition that this was a systemic problem, the company responded by announcing a new policy on animal welfare that it would expect its suppliers to adhere to.

Mercy for Animals celebrated the move but still urged people to avoid dairy altogether. Remember, the most important action we can take to help farmed animals is to choose healthy and humane vegan foods.

According to Statistics Canada, national per capita milk consumption dropped by 18 per cent between and A study at Dalhousie University suggests that nearly three million Canadians — mostly under the age of 35 — identify as being vegetarian or vegan; animal welfare is cited as being a contributing factor in their decision. But compared with animals in the factory farm industry, these labels do suggest that they are being treated more humanely.

And yet what does that really mean? And is it humane enough to justify the extra couple of bucks? Our farm is small but self-sustaining. Our delicious, vitamin D rich, pure milk is delivered to our customers weekly and we have over names on our waiting list. We have one bull in a field whom we allow a cow to spend a few days with if we decide she is ready to be impregnated. We already have a very long milk waiting list and therefore the list is closed to new submissions at this time.

Production of of gouda style semi-hard cheese is ongoing. Production of yoghurt and other products is presently paused. Although we may not be able to offer you milk or products at this time, please still consider becoming a member to support our slaughter-free mission.

Please everyone welcome our new member of the herd Manisita. She was born yesterday. Well done mummy Lotus. It is with great sadness we would like to announce the passing away of our four year old bull, Superhero. He was mild mannered, quite unusual in that sense as bulls tend to be full of vigour and strength. An unfortunate incident took place with one of our boisterous oxen Henry who jumped a fence into the bull field last Thursday.

It was a…. Wave if you see us driving around! It continues long after the moment of separation, and both mother and child often cry out for one another. To me, this is the saddest thing in all of animal agriculture.

The success of the veal industry is dependent on the dairy industry. The male calves killed for veal are originally born due to the needed pregnancies for dairy farming.

When a cow births a calf, it can either be male or female. For male calves, a small percentage stay on the farm to be raised for semen production. Either way, a premature death awaits. Some require calves have more space to live. Or that they live in a pen with other calves and a surrogate mother, as opposed to living in a crate alone.

They may have outdoor access, or get to live their whole lives outside. This is still very young, as cows naturally live into their 20s. So they are killed, usually in terrifying slaughterhouses, in a process not guaranteed to be painless. Besides the exploitative aspects above, many cows suffer additional cruelty from workers or specific practices. This was the first cruelty investigation into an organic dairy in the U. You can watch footage from the investigation here.

Many of them are just marketing terms—not actual, audited certifications. What labels or certifications will give you the best chance of getting actually cruelty-free cheese or milk? The independent certification programs generally provide stronger proof of animal welfare. A lot of the USDA terms are sloppy and defined by the farms themselves.

They then place a clarifying description or a web link with clarification of the term on product packaging. The USDA does not define these standards.

And generally, the USDA does not audit the farms to check that dairy producers are meeting the requirements of their term. This means there is very little accountability about what is written is on a product label. These are ranked from most useful to least useful. This appears to be the only USDA standard where inspections of farms are actually done source , source.

The downside? Space requirements lack definition. Some dairy farmers also complain that the rigid ban on antibiotics actually worsens animal welfare. For the best assurance, look for independent certifications like AWA below. These terms could definitely provide some improved welfare conditions for dairy cows. But definitions vary for each term.

But animals can actually be fed this grass indoors, in factory farm conditions—with no consideration of other welfare concerns. The only welfare benefit to this label is that cows fed this diet are less likely to suffer from gastrointestinal disorders and liver abscesses, compared to cows on regular factory farm diets. Many consumers would assume that this has something to do with animal welfare, particularly their living conditions. But this label has nothing to do with the treatment of cows.