Fate of the Calves

Although a cow would naturally suckle her calf for nine months to a year, calves born on dairy farms are taken away from their mothers within a few days of birth – so that we can drink the milk that was meant to nourish the calves. A strong mother/infant bond is formed between cow and calf within the first few hours of birth, making their separation extremely traumatic. Both the cow and calf bellow and show obvious signs of distress when they are separated, often continuing for several days, leaving those within earshot in no doubt that it is a harrowing experience for both. The cow will be re-impregnated two to three months after the calf is removed and forced to endure this emotional suffering again and again, every year until she is worn out. Professor John Webster describes the removal of the calf as the “most potentially distressing incident in the life of the dairy cow”.