memes

Oh, I'm in America, and it doesn't mean "no pesticides". it means no pesticides approved by the EPA. fuck knows what they're actually putting on there

Hey, thanks for getting back to me. I'd be really interested in a follow up.

Let me start by stating that i am happy to learn more and don't ask to get a "got ya" out of you. It's great to have the possibility to talk to somebody who has real experience in the field (if you don't mind me further enquiring of course).

• Cows get pregnant about once per year. When we have an actual bull with the herd, that interval is even shorter because the bull won't consider milk production at all. He'll jump on as soon as he smells she's in heat.

So cows have one or two calves a year, with a dry period of 60 days, while giving milk for the rest of the year.

• There's nothing forceful about artificial insemination and every statement in that direction is extremist bullshit spread by Peta Terrorists and other lowlifes

I have to disagree here. Dairy farmers are impragnating cows, either via natural or artifical methods, to make a profit selling their milk. Impregnating another sentient being that cannot consent to it, for no other reason than to profit from them, is by definition forceful in my opinion. I'd even say it is forceful regardless of the physical force the act of impragnation requiers.

• Wild cows also get pregnant every year, yes. They need to produce as much offspring as possible so the herd doesn't die out and when there's a bull present and the cow goes into heat, then there's nothing stopping them.

That's good to know. I suppose the herds size would be regulated trough predators. Most cows that exist in America and Europa wouldn't survive in the wild, because they have been bred into milk or meat producers, but it's good to know thad beeing pregnant is the norm for cows.

• Cows on organic farms often live into their teens and are usually only slaughtered when they develop severe health problems. Our oldest one is 16 years old as of last month and you can easily tell that she's an extremely old lady. Wild cows have a way shorter life expectancy because they get hunted down by predators or die of an infection as soon as they show any kind of weakness or old age.

I'm really happy to hear this :) Since this reduces profit it really shows a genuine care about your families cows, since doing this while losing money must come out of respect and genuine care. e Is keeping cows alive into their teens or even late teens something only your family does or is it part of the general organic milk industry's standards?

• A dignified existence for a cow is the ability to graze on fresh pastures, a roof over the head for bad weather, soft bedding for resting, a reasonablely sized herd for companionship and a painless death when her time has come.

• Separation of cows and calves is your only argument that has any kind of merit, but honestly most cows take it pretty well. A lot of farmers are actually exploring concepts where mother and calf are kept together, but those usually result in higher maintenance cost and slightly lower milk yield. And customers are just not ready to pay the difference.

Thanks for being honest about me having a point. Personaly i think not beeing seperated from their children should be part of a dignified existance. Even if you think that they take it well, that can by it's nature only be an assumption.

I don't have time for a deep dive rn, but wikipedia seems to disagree with you (i know, not a great source):

May i ask what happens with the babys? I mean, you propaly can't afford to double your heard in size every year, that would run out of steam fast.

The thing that people like you [...]

People like me? Who are they?

[...]always forget is that most farmers and especially organic farmers care a great deal about their kettles' wellbeing and some of you would do well to remember that.

I don't know about that. I belive and hope that farmers care for their animals, and i can imagine that espeacialy organic farmers indeed do care about their animals. I believe that you see your family as caring about their cows.

Considering how most of the livestock we have is not held on organic farms but is mass produced cattle on large scale farms that do live under horrendous circumstances, i don't think that "most" farmers care about their animals as living beings that should be treated with respect. Maybe as an asset that has to be kept healthy enough to produce the desired product, but that often includes the very bare minimum of care (at least outside of organic farms).