Calves are separated from their mother after birth for their own well-being and overall health. Calves are born with a weak immune system similar to that of a human baby, so they are highly susceptible to bacteria that the mothers can carry in their fecal matter. Colostrum is the milk that a mother gives in the first days after birth and it provides essential immunoglobulins that are key for the calves’ survival and growth. Because it plays such an important role in the calves’ survival, the consumption of it is monitored in depth by the farmers.
Calf housing is also an important aspect of a dairy; dairies are moving to raising calves in group housing, which means that calves spend their time with the same group of animals in a large pen where they have the freedom to run and play. Calves are raised together usually at another location where they will grow until they are old enough to come back to the dairy as a member of the herd.
Farmers take great pride in ensuring that their animals are at peak health and comfortable at all times. Cow health and comfort is arguably the most important aspect of a dairy farm. Cows that are comfortable produce large volumes of high-quality milk. Great pains are taken to ensure that the cows do not experience heat stress, using curtains, fans and sprinklers. Cows are also housed largely in barns called free stalls, where they have the freedom to walk around, eat, drink and lie down in sand beds at their own pleasure. Sand is an ideal choice for cows because it molds to the shape of their bodies and takes stress off their legs and knees. Barns are also fitted with cow scratchers that provide a source of mental stimulation and an area to socialize.
Cows like consistency and respond well when an area or experience seems familiar to them. Machines are used because they provide the exact same milking experience to a cow every time, whereas with a human milker, there would be a large degree of variation in that same procedure. Machines are also more hygienic for the cow and the milk by decreasing exposure to pathogens.
As for the validity of milk’s healthfulness, milk is one of the best forms of nutrients available. It provides access to the nine nutrients essential for healthy growth and development. Calcium plays a key role in adolescents in developing their peak bone mass, which plays an important role throughout the rest of one’s life and can influence the development of osteoporosis later on. Cow’s milk provides 8 grams of protein per cup and high-protein cow’s milk can have up to 13 grams, while almond milk has only 1 gram, or 5 grams in protein-fortified milk. As for antibiotics, there will never be a trace of antibiotics in your milk. The milk is tested by the farmer, the truck driver and at the processing facility, and if any traces are discovered, the entire tank is dumped. If a cow must be treated with antibiotics, she is separated from the rest of the herd and her milk is dumped after each milking. There is also a withholding period after treatment when the cow’s milk is still dumped.
Source: Idaho Mountain Express
Link: http://www.mtexpress.com/opinion/guest_opinions/dairy-industry-has-high-standards/article_9bd19d9e-457d-11e7-8f52-677b4e3806e5.html