LOUDER THAN WORDS ART AND ACTIVISM

Cows suffer at dairies.

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Like humans and all mammals, cows produce milk to nourish their offspring. The dairy industry wants you to forget that for cows to produce milk, they must give birth. All dairy farms, regardless of size, forcibly impregnate cows. Like humans, pregnancy in cows lasts nine months - nine months of feeling your baby inside, and nine months of a deep emotional bond. And then, tragedy. Shortly after birth, once the mother's milk has started to flow, the calf is torn away. The mother cows bellow and wail for their calves. The calves do the same. 

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Farmers place male calves into veal crates or otherwise kill and dispose of them. Female calves are fed formula until they are old enough to follow their mother's fate—a cycle of generational trauma. 

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Once a mother's milk-yield drops to levels at which they stop creating profit for the farmers, cows are sent off to slaughter. This harrowing, traumatic, painful process occurs time and time again. A cow, on average, can give birth six, seven, and sometimes more times in her life. Imagine this lifetime of suffering. 

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Cows are unique individuals.

 

Through marketing and media, animal agriculture has fooled us into thinking that cows are all the same, that they aren't very intelligent, or that they don't have personality. It's easy to dismiss their suffering when we believe they are automated drones. But it's inaccurate. Some cows are outgoing; others are shy. They are curious, creative and determined, and above all else, they are deeply social. Cows will do anything to stay with their family and friends. They babysit their friend's kids, and when adult cows play with calves, they often let the calves win! 

 

Calves are playful and mischievous; they run and play like human children. They also yearn for their mother's love and comfort. Like human mothers, cows will do anything to feed, protect, and stay close to their calves.

 

Cows fight back.

 

Mother cows don't just mourn their calves, they mourn deeply. They often try everything in their power to keep their babies safe. Take Norma; a VINE Sanctuary resident rescued from a dairy farm. She injured a dairy worker after he tried to separate her from her calf. Or Ebony, who escaped a dairy farm while pregnant. Think of the millions of stories we don't get to hear of mothers' resistance.