I'm Sending Feed to be Analyzed

[HollowOfWisps]

Agree mostly with this. We have a ton of dairy farmers by name, (Chobani plant is in the area), and the farmers have little to no control over how the cows are raised. They aren’t allowed to let them eat grass. Stuck in a barn all day to “regulate” things, and feed is controlled by the company so all milk “tastes the same”. Farmers have been told this is the “best” way to care for their cows. I’m sure it’s the same for chicken farmers who work with companies like Perdue. Feed is controlled, space is controlled, temperature is controlled…can’t let the flocks outside as it will disrupt things and possibly bring disease. Unless you are small & local with autonomy, you are a farmer for “the man” and probably so far in debt w the company you could never break out and do your own thing.

I think it depends on the corporation. I grew up in very heavy dairy farm area and saw the complete opposite. The local farms sold their milk to the largest dairy brand manufacturer in the state, but they all raised their dairy cows like cows. I know first hand too because the dairy farm just a mile down the road I used to help out when they needed a hand, my sister was employed at another local dairy farm and my cousin was employed at another local dairy farm. The cows spent most of their time in the fields and these farms had ample acreage beyond the reccomendation minimums for each cow, bailed their own quality hay (I helped with that too) and got their feed from the local feed mill that milled their own grains (I knew the owner).

 

[Lilion]

Agree mostly with this. We have a ton of dairy farmers by name, (Chobani plant is in the area), and the farmers have little to no control over how the cows are raised. They aren’t allowed to let them eat grass. Stuck in a barn all day to “regulate” things, and feed is controlled by the company so all milk “tastes the same”. Farmers have been told this is the “best” way to care for their cows. I’m sure it’s the same for chicken farmers who work with companies like Perdue. Feed is controlled, space is controlled, temperature is controlled…can’t let the flocks outside as it will disrupt things and possibly bring disease. Unless you are small & local with autonomy, you are a farmer for “the man” and probably so far in debt w the company you could never break out and do your own thing.

Did you ever see the documentary "Holy Chicken"? It was a really interesting look at "big chicken" companies.

 

[Geena]

Agree mostly with this. We have a ton of dairy farmers by name, (Chobani plant is in the area), and the farmers have little to no control over how the cows are raised. They aren’t allowed to let them eat grass. Stuck in a barn all day to “regulate” things, and feed is controlled by the company so all milk “tastes the same”. Farmers have been told this is the “best” way to care for their cows. I’m sure it’s the same for chicken farmers who work with companies like Perdue. Feed is controlled, space is controlled, temperature is controlled…can’t let the flocks outside as it will disrupt things and possibly bring disease. Unless you are small & local with autonomy, you are a farmer for “the man” and probably so far in debt w the company you could never break out and do your own thing.

Yep, and the corporations are about A. making money and B. giving the general public what they want and need, a cheap and consistent product.

Although most of the dairy farms in my area seem to be as @HollowOfWisps describes. Family owned farms where the cows graze on hundreds of acres and only come in to be milked.

 

[raingarden]

That doesn't mean they care about the animals, the fear or pain that they feel.

Well, guess what? Fear and pain are stress factors and stress leads to disease, cannibalism, slow growth and such If you don't think they want the birds to be happy then you should try to get to know the system and the people behind it. You can call it a factory if you want but success still depends on having a knack for good animal husbandry.

 

[miss heny]

Yep, and the corporations are about A. making money and B. giving the general public what they want and need, a cheap and consistent product.

Although most of the dairy farms in my area seem to be as @HollowOfWisps describes. Family owned farms where the cows graze on hundreds of acres and only come in to be milked.

In the US nearly all Dairy Farms work as a co-op. I been to farms were the cows are kept inside and ngl? Those places are pretty nice and safe, properly kept ones aren't that smelly and I could roll all day in that fermented feed

Dairy cows though are victim of human breeding the most, poultry being another but tbh cornish crosses are.... eh something else imo

 

[Iluveggers]

In the US nearly all Dairy Farms work as a co-op. I been to farms were the cows are kept inside and ngl? Those places are pretty nice and safe, properly kept ones aren't that smelly and I could roll all day in that fermented feed

Dairy cows though are victim of human breeding the most, poultry being another but tbh cornish crosses are.... eh something else imo

I didn’t say they were necessarily mistreated…i do think it is cruel to rip the babies away while the mother mourns…and I also think it is cruel to keep an animal indoors for most/all of its life. I understand for production purposes why…but one of the reasons I don’t drink milk (although I found an organic, grass fed, raw milk source I may start buying from to make my own butter.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Well, guess what? Fear and pain are stress factors and stress leads to disease, cannibalism, slow growth and such If you don't think they want the birds to be happy then you should try to get to know the system and the people behind it. You can call it a factory if you want but success still depends on having a knack for good animal husbandry.

You should look up factory farming. Or go visit one, before defending it.

 

[miss heny]

I didn’t say they were necessarily mistreated…i do think it is cruel to rip the babies away while the mother mourns…and I also think it is cruel to keep an animal indoors for most/all of its life. I understand for production purposes why…but one of the reasons I don’t drink milk (although I found an organic, grass fed, raw milk source I may start buying from to make my own butter.

Truthfully? Dairy cows mother are legit some of the worse mothers out there. I wish I was kidding we we basically bred out the instinct out of the most use dairy cow breeds.

Beef heifers are better, but even they have glitches. Our dexter legit left her newly born still wet calf in the pasture for food, we had to trap her with him to register she birth him she raises him call me lazy but I was NOT in the mood to bottle raise a calf after just weaning off piglets.

 

[sdm111]

I didn’t say they were necessarily mistreated…i do think it is cruel to rip the babies away while the mother mourns…and I also think it is cruel to keep an animal indoors for most/all of its life. I understand for production purposes why…but one of the reasons I don’t drink milk (although I found an organic, grass fed, raw milk source I may start buying from to make my own butter.

They are animals. They don't have the same intellect as humans.
People put animals on the same plane as humans and its just not true.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Truthfully? Dairy cows mother are legit some of the worse mothers out there. I wish I was kidding we we basically bred out the instinct out of the most use dairy cow breeds.

Beef heifers are better, but even they have glitches. Our dexter legit left her newly born still wet calf in the pasture for food, we had to trap her with him to register she birth him she raises him call me lazy but I was NOT in the mood to bottle raise a calf after just weaning off piglets.

Agreed. They often forget the calf exists as soon as you show them a bucket of grain.