Panorama. The Dairy Industry

Happily, there are MANY good, caring dairy farmers...so please don't tar all with the same brush. Want racism- look hard enough you can find it, sexism, cruelty, abuse always there...

You cannot and shouldn't consider all dairy industry the same because of one reporter in one business.

But, the price of milk is stupidly low - but people buy it...I'm amazed in my supermarket!

I quite agree, MaizeD.

Many many people don’t have the luxury of choosing which brand of milk to buy.

Obviously, for those that do, all well and good.

I have no sympathy for farmers. Perhaps less intensive dairy farming is what we need.

As a child I used to go on farm holidays, the milking cows were always well cared for and treated, of course these were small family farms and they were proud of their animals and weren't seen as dumb stupid creatures a commodity to be abused like many huge farms nowadays!
I'm a vegetarian and use very little milk, otherwise I'd go for organic milk. And do think milk is far too cheap a chocolate bar costs more than a pint and we happily pay for it!!
I used to have a goat for milk, I only allowed her to kid every other year and she milked all the way through without dropping volume, I hate the thought that the these poor animals have to bear young year in year out, often having problems as the calves are too big for them to pass through the pelvis! It's about time animal welfare stepped up!

For years I have said I would not be vegetarian unless I was strong willed enough to give up dairy , as next to battery hens I thought it was the most cruel aspect of farming- removing the calf at birth seems horrendous.We always buy meat from a farm shop and have organic milk and cheese, but I do feel guilty, as I’m sure organic vows are still robbed of their calves. There are so many alternatives to dairy these days that I really should make the move. There is no way that my husband will though.

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325425#nutritional-values
There is more calcium in almond, oat and soy milk than dairy.

Buy the best organic milk you can and use less. The substitutes are not milk, do not replace the nutrients are carbon and additive heavy.

Thanks for your response Sloegin and Suedonim.

I drink one and a half pints of milk a day in various forms for the calcium. After having watched that film I would like to get it from other sources. Any suggestions?

Sloegin - with you completely. Milk is too cheap and really cow's milk is for cows. Society generally and governments need re-educating on what we should be paying for food (milk included). Oat milk is a great substitute. The trick is to get vegan milks down in price so everyone can afford them.

Unfortunately when supermarket prices rise, the farmer rarely sees any of the profit. The only ones doing well out of all this are the greedy supermarkets.

There is an online vegan cheese company called Honestly Tasty. The camembert is delicious. You can hardly tell the difference. They also do a nice herby cheese and a blue cheese. Much nicer than the supermarket coconut cheeses. I think they are made with cashews. Definitely worth a try for a taste of luxury cheese.

In 1976 when I first married we had £68 net income a week. And between£12/15 went on food for two. We ate very frugally and meat was the most expensive.milk was dear too and never wasted.we had six eggs lasting about ten days. Now the percentage of funds used for food I suspect is tiny in comparison, and a lot spent on 'rubbish'. I also think in real terms food has plummeted in price since those days , then again we had slot TV no heating on sat with calor gas heater on in quilt on sofa to keep warm in winter. Wore pyjamas socks and dressing gowns in bed!! Were we happy? Not really nwe were always hungry and cold! We had 'good' jobs too! Trainee accountant and civil servant! Why does everyone have priorities skewed?!?!

I lived on farms as a child and I didn't see any cruelty, but even so I felt upset about some things .

Factory farming is
very cruel .

We humans are such hypocrites !

I know so many people ,who are vegetarians and love telling you about it even making you feel guilty about your eating habits and yet they buy their animals ie : dogs and cats - beef ,chicken and lamb !

Something wrong with their thinking ?
Or mine ?

I also didn't watch, I can't bear seeing animals treated cruelly.
Would happily pay more for milk, but aware this isn't possible for some people.

We are far too remote and ignorant to the way our food is produced now, cruelty to any animals is abhorrent but the reality of the dairy industry in particular means that practices exist that people don’t “see” ie the removal and destruction of bull calves for example… a huge number of them are destroyed as there is no market for them. We should be prepared to pay a MUCH higher price for higher welfare animal products and eat them less often.

I did see it. Was not impressed with the vet who was asked for comments on the terrible scenes. Felt he should have been much more positive against what he saw. The governing bodies for farming should be ashamed for allowing all the intensive milking systems. Prices need to increase if it would stop the brutality shown in the programme and the animals were allowed a decent life.

It's difficult to believe the individual mistreatment is widespread. The media always go for the worst case to get audience and headlines. It's all very well to recommend buying organic and vegan but that prices out those who can't afford it and damages farmers who have high standards.

I would pay more for milk and most things eg eggs/chicken. I buy organic milk too.

I am not vegan but try not to eat meat, some fish as Doctor advised I should! Have not used Cows milk for around 30+ years as did not like the stories of how the cows & calves were treated. After watching this I am now wondering if the same treatment is dealt to Goats as I have used Goats milk for many years as it suits my digestion. Maybe I should just give up any type of milk as I havent found one that suits after trying just about all the alternatives & going back to Goats milk. So much cruelty is just not acceptable & hopefully enough people will have seen how bad Dairy farms treat their animals!

Another reason to go vegan ladies. All factory farming involves extreme animal cruelty.

I’m with VEGANROCK on this. Oat milk is a great substitute and I love hazelnut milk on my cereal.
Unfortunately cruelty to farm animals exists in this country. It’s heartbreaking to watch. Sadly, most people are unaware of it.

I stopped eating meat a good while back the. two years ago I removed all fish from my diet and now I m seriously considering dairy going too I do realise how in some areas the animals are treated badly and even when treated well it’s not natural to keep the poor cows constantly ‘in milk’
Like how people can buy eggs from free range chickens in supermarkets couldn’t dairy have a similar system

Alpro soya milk is the best of the alternatives, in my opinion. (Some are horrible.) It is also ethically produced and does not affect rainforests. I have been using it for drinks and cooking for years. I am vegetarian and I don't eat eggs, and eat very little dairy except for cheese. I have found it very hard to give up cheese, I'll admit - especially blue cheeses. I am at least trying to reduce my intake.

Three years ago I saw a piece on Country Life where a dairy farmer was crying because of how his cows reacted when their calves were taken away. It made me become plant based in my diet after 40 years as a vegetarian. I live near a small dairy farm and have heard the cows crying when their young go. It is awful and goes on for days sometimes.

tidyskatemum would you pay double for your cows’ bodily fluids? You probably should. Oat milk is fortified the same as cow baby milk so isn’t just watered down porridge. Hopefully it will get cheaper as production increases. You can buy own brand in Lidl and Aldi.