Ahimsa Milk: Slaughter free dairy produce
LJSmith1989
Posts: 650
Here in the UK we have a company/charity that produces milk, cheese and ghee products that are slaughter free
On their website:
Ahimsa milk will be produced to the following minimal standards:
•No cows, calves or bulls will be slaughtered
•Cows can graze freely on open pasture
•Cows will be protected for life
http://www.ahimsamilk.org/
I think this is an awesome concept but does it really fit in with a Vegan lifestyle? As cows are still used to produce milk etc that does not go directly to its calf.
On their website:
Ahimsa milk will be produced to the following minimal standards:
•No cows, calves or bulls will be slaughtered
•Cows can graze freely on open pasture
•Cows will be protected for life
http://www.ahimsamilk.org/
I think this is an awesome concept but does it really fit in with a Vegan lifestyle? As cows are still used to produce milk etc that does not go directly to its calf.
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Replies
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Hi
I've seen this in the Karma free pizza restaurant in Harrow.
It's not for me I'm afraid, besides their vegan pizzas are yum :bigsmile:
Similar question though.... I have a vegan friend who has rescued battery hens.... they give the eggs away.
Matt0 -
These products have no place in a vegan lifestyle, as they go against one of the fundamental ideals: that it is not human right to exploit animals, and that we have no ownership of their bodies, secretions, etc. This company profits off of the exploitation of cows.
Cows make milk for baby cows, and so for a human to take it for their own consumption is essentially stealing it from the calf. With so many plant-based options, purchasing and consuming this milk is unnecessary.0 -
^^ I totally respect that position. I do wonder however if supporting a company like this could do more, in practical terms, to benefit and improve the lives of domestic farm animals than abstaining from animal products altogether. At this point, we have created these animals, they are not equipped to function independently of us. If those of us who are willing to eat animal products from well-treated animals supported companies like this, I think there could be a real shift in the industry (which may already be happening).0
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Don't they have to constantly impregnate the cows in order to have them continuously producing milk? As far as animal-based dairy options go this is a cool concept, but I'd be curious to learn more.0
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There is no way the cows would keep producing without being impregnated repeatedly, so there's one thing I don't like.
I'd also love to know if the male calves go to veal, they're not technically slaughtered by them.
Not to mention that it is fundamentally not out our right to use and abuse a living animal in whatever way we see fit.
IMO it's just a 'unique selling point' to gain the market of people that want to drink milk but feel guilty about it, I doubt that anything they do is that different to normal dairy farms or they'd be inundated with cows in a decades time, how many cows can 'animal refuges' take in!?
I don't like it and I wouldn't drink it.
I don't see a problem with eating eggs from pet chickens though, if they're left there for a day and the hens don't eat them themselves, but that's not for me either, not a big fan of eggs.0 -
This ......There is no way the cows would keep producing without being impregnated repeatedly
If you drink this your are not a vegan0 -
This ......There is no way the cows would keep producing without being impregnated repeatedly
If you drink this your are not a vegan
Never said I was either Vegan or drank it.
(I am and I love almond milk.)0 -
^^ I totally respect that position. I do wonder however if supporting a company like this could do more, in practical terms, to benefit and improve the lives of domestic farm animals than abstaining from animal products altogether. At this point, we have created these animals, they are not equipped to function independently of us. If those of us who are willing to eat animal products from well-treated animals supported companies like this, I think there could be a real shift in the industry (which may already be happening).
This would be a nice thing - but the issue with milk is that in order for the industry to go forward, cows need to keep being impregnated and bringing baby cows into the world. The system perpetuates, and we are "creating" these calves out of greed. Milk comes down to supply and demand - the more people turn to plant-based milks and demand decreases, the less calves are needlessly brought into the world solely for human exploitation. Ultimately, it IS better to abstain from dairy products, in order to end the cycle.0 -
^^ I totally respect that position. I do wonder however if supporting a company like this could do more, in practical terms, to benefit and improve the lives of domestic farm animals than abstaining from animal products altogether. At this point, we have created these animals, they are not equipped to function independently of us. If those of us who are willing to eat animal products from well-treated animals supported companies like this, I think there could be a real shift in the industry (which may already be happening).
This would be a nice thing - but the issue with milk is that in order for the industry to go forward, cows need to keep being impregnated and bringing baby cows into the world. The system perpetuates, and we are "creating" these calves out of greed. Milk comes down to supply and demand - the more people turn to plant-based milks and demand decreases, the less calves are needlessly brought into the world solely for human exploitation. Ultimately, it IS better to abstain from dairy products, in order to end the cycle.
I see your point. I hadn't really thought of it like that.
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Someone that I know rescued chickens that didn't produce enough eggs, and were going for slaughter. Those chickens lead a really good life and they still give eggs (even if they don't give enough for the egg industry standards.) I don't eat them, but I could see where there is room to add them once in a while. My daughter, who's vegetarian, but doesn't eat eggs, does eat them. I'm just curious what other people feel about this kind of a case.0
