Dairy Cows

            From 1940 to 2004, average per-cow milk production rose from 2.3 to 9.5 tons per year; some cows have surpased 30 tons. High milk production often causes udder breakdown, leading to early slaughter.

            It is unprofitable to keep cows alive once their milk production declines. They are usually killed at 5-6 years of age, though their normal lifespan exceeds 20.

            Dairy cows are rarely allowed to nurse their young. Many male calves are slaughtered immediately, while others are raised for “special-fed veal” – kept in individual stalls and chained by the neck on a 2-3 foot tether for 18-20 weeks before being slaughtered.