Slaughter of Pregnant Dairy Cows

In order to keep their milk flowing, dairy cows are made pregnant over and over with barely a break between pregnancies. Unsurprisingly, that takes a huge physical toll. Those of us who have had several children in quick succession may come to regret our life choices, but for cows, there is no choice, only a world of physical pain. Cows in the dairy industry tend to develop severe lameness, infertility, and mastitis, which is an infection of the udders that drips neutrophils (pus-forming immune cells) into the milk.

Cows in the dairy industry, like us, have nine-month pregnancies. But unlike most of us, they are impregnated every year, which means they are pregnant more often than they are not. This places an enormous strain on their bodies, making them prone to a range of health problems that affect their profitability. When this happens, they are sent to slaughter, even if they are still pregnant. Two separate studies found that 24% of dairy cows were pregnant when slaughtered,^{1 2} with more than a quarter of the animals in their third trimester.³

Is there anything more despicable than killing a pregnant mother?