As well as infl icting animal suffering, it is one of the leading causesof environmental breakdown, and has a negative impact on human health. Will Sorfl aten explains why dairy is on its way out

THE AUTHOR

Will Sorflaten works on Viva!’s campaigns to promote veganism as a kinder, more sustainable lifestyle. He is currently focusing on expanding Viva!’s collaboration with university vegan societies. Find out more at viva.org.uk

The only way that a cow produces milk is by having a baby. This is true of any mammal, including humans. So for humans to consume dairy, cows are forcibly impregnated by farmers in order to give birth and start lactating.

So what happens to these calves once they’re born? If the calf is male, he is seen as having very little value to the dairy farm as males cannot produce milk. Almost 90 per cent of the UK’s dairy cows are the Holstein-Friesian breed — a breed that has been artificially manipulated to produce higher milk yields than those used in beef production. Therefore, dairy calves are generally smaller and unprofitable when it comes to raising animals for meat. As a result huge numbers of male calves are killed shortly after birth. In 2015, 95,000 male calves were shot on-farm — this is standard practice (whether we’re talking about an organic, free-range or intensive farm). If the calf were allowed to live, he would consume his mum’s milk, but farmers need to sell it to humans if they are to make a profit from the animals.