Dairy Industry Giants Accused of Killing Young Cows and Cheating Consumers

[marmar]

from Civil Eats:



Got Milked? Dairy Industry Giants Accused of Killing Young Cows and Cheating Consumers

October 14th, 2011
By Erica Meier


Big Dairy has consistently shown its lack of regard for animal welfare and the environment. Now, according to a new class action lawsuit filed last week, it’s milking its own consumers by illegally jacking up prices – to the tune of $9.5 billion in additional profit.

On Sept. 26, leading class action law firm Hagens Berman filed a lawsuit on behalf of consumers accusing several dairy industry giants – including the National Milk Producers Federation, Dairy Farmers of America and Land O’Lakes – of a multi-billion dollar price-fixing scheme carried out through the collectively formed trade group, Cooperatives Working Together (CWT).

As outlined in the complaint, between 2003 and 2010, CWT’s so-called “dairy herd retirement” program paid primarily small dairy farmers to send entire herds to slaughter—over 500,000 young cows in all—in a concerted effort to reduce the supply of milk thereby inflating the price nationwide. The case further alleges that by buying out many of these small farmers, the program unfairly increased profits for agribusiness giants.

Compassion Over Killing uncovered this possibly illegal price-fixing scheme that was killing cows, cheating consumers, and lining the pockets of agribusiness giants and turned its research over to Hagens Berman. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://civileats.com/2011/10/14/got-milked-dairy-industry-giants-accused-of-killing-young-cows-and-cheating-consumers/

[formercia]

1. Always lots of young Dairy Cattle for slaughter

The Dairy Cows are kept pregnant so they will produce Milk. What do you think happens to the calves that aren't used to increase the Herd?
One of the dirty little secrets in that glass of Milk you just drank.

[Tansy_Gold]

2. +1

Exactly

[formercia]

4. delete, wrong spot

[Aerows]

3. Yeah, but this is price-fixing

It certainly explains why the cost of milk skyrocketed. Price fixing is illegal.

[formercia]

5. I understand that

but I was just trying to point out that the killing will go on, regardless of the Price Fixing.

[enki23]

7. how is that a "secret"?

the male calves, and those not destined to become dairy cows, are raised for beef.

[formercia]

8. Most of the Public isn't aware.

A glass of Milk is innocuous on its face. People should become aware of how and why their food is produced, and the consequences of what they eat.

Every time I eat Meat, I think about the animal or animals it came from. We all need to eat, but the animals that provide us food should be respected, allowed to live a reasonably decent life and not be mistreated.

[Critters2]

20. We don't need to eat meat.

I know I don't.

[formercia]

21. I'm slowly getting there

It's not something one can do Cold Turkey....

[Scout]

9. many are abused, mistreated and are allowed to languish and die if they

become ill....

they aren't all raised for beef if they can't be used for dairy.

[FarCenter]

14. Dairy calves generally don't make good beef, and are raised for veal

Since you generally don't need to breed all the cows to dairy bulls in order to get enough replacement heifers, you can breed part of the herd with beef bulls. Angus/Holstein crosses make good beef, and the smaller, naturally polled Angus cross calves are easier for young cows to deliver.

[formercia]

19. Most breeding is done via AI

Pick your Bull out of a catalog.

[xchrom]

6. recommend

[AngkorWot]

10. That's odd. Here the price of milk is the cheapest I've seen it in decades.

Has been for a couple of years now.

And besides, isn't the price of milk strictly controlled by the government/subsidies?

And of course they kill cows. They're farms. Christ.

[marmar]

11. "Here the price of milk is the cheapest I've seen it in decades."

Huh? And you can say that sh*t with a straight face?

[AngkorWot]

13. Well under three bucks a gallon.

:shrug:

[laundry_queen]

16. well it's gone up well over $1 a gallon here in the last year. nt

[Ikonoklast]

17. That price increase has more to do with the increase in the price of diesel fuel than

Farming runs on diesel, as does shipping the raw milk to the dairy, and the finished products to the wholesalers, and then to the consumers.


Dairy farmers have been paid to reduce herds for years.

[Tansy_Gold]

18. Milk is often used as a loss-leader by major grocery chains

And it's usually almost always in the back of the store as far away from the bread as possible.

Cereal and ice cream and snack foods (right by the sodas) are in the middle of the store.





TG

[Marrah_G]

12. Buy organic milk, local if possible

It's more expensive but my solution is to use less of it. Same with meats. I spend the same and eat less of it. Something about the taste or nutrition makes me satisfied with less amounts then of the same mass produced kind.

[Javaman]

15. Don't worry, K Street is all over this. It will vanish quicker than a fart in the wind.

sadly, I'm not being sarcastic.