Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18

Thread: Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    February 2012
    Posts
    1,525
    Rep Power
    2741

    Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

    Namaste

    I drink milk, for example I love goat milk. There is also cow milk.

    Some vegans think they a good vegans, and they drink milk. But I am now considering a question... Are milk drinkers true vegans?

    I know many in India for example give the cow a good life. And they also milk these cows for the milk to drink. The same with goats.

    But that is not necessarily the case in the US.

    Some "true vegans" are now saying, if you drink commercial milk then you are supporting slavery (of the cow or goat) and thus you are not a true vegan.

    Take this article below:
    -------------------------
    Factory-farmed dairy cows endure annual cycles of artificial insemination, mechanized milking for 10 out of 12 months (including 7 months of their 9-month pregnancies), and giving birth. On industrialized dairy facilities, these animals are denied nearly all of their natural behaviors and instincts.

    Even if dairy cows are "free range" and "organic" (as if that changes what happens to the male calves) ... slavery and early death is *still* wrong.

    http://www.vegetarianveganvillage.or...s-slavery.html

    --------------------------

    Are such so-called "vegans" who drink commercial milk actually not much better than Bengali Hindus who eat goat, in that these milk drinking vegans are actually supporting slavery of the cow or goat?

    Are these cows shown in the link above, slaves?

    Om Namah Sivaya


  2. #2

    Re: Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

    According to the scripture any kind of milk from cows purifies the mind. Ma will do everything for her children even if they are a pain...

    Dietarily though, goat milk is much better for you.

    One thing about the bull calves is they can use artificial insemination now to reduce male offspring.
    Last edited by izi; 05 September 2012 at 05:20 AM.
    Om Hrim Kshraum Ugram Veeram Maha-Vishnum, Jwalantham Sarvatho Mukham Nrisimham Bheeshanam Bhadram Mrityu-Mrityum Namaamyaham

    Follower of Śeṣanaaga

  3. #3
    Join Date
    September 2007
    Location
    Canada
    Age
    70
    Posts
    7,191
    Rep Power
    5038

    Re: Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

    Vannakkam ShivaFan: By definition, vegans don't use animal products of any kind. So milk is non-vegan. I think a more apt question might be if ahimsa allows for milk drinking, given the current state of affairs in the western dairy industry.

    On a side note, I once had a naturopathic doctor tell me , "That's a very poor excuse for milk," in regard to the stuff.

    Aum Namasivaya

  4. #4
    Join Date
    June 2011
    Location
    NJ, USA
    Age
    66
    Posts
    1,674
    Rep Power
    1694

    Re: Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

    Namaste.

    Quote Originally Posted by ShivaFan View Post
    Namaste

    I drink milk, for example I love goat milk. There is also cow milk.

    Some vegans think they a good vegans, and they drink milk. But I am now considering a question... Are milk drinkers true vegans?
    True vegans will not use anything that exploits or comes from an animal, whether it harms the animal or not. No wool or any fur or hair from an animal, technically a vegan would not use a real yak tail whisk or fan for puja; no feathers; no honey (it disturbs and potentially harms the bees); no milk, cheese or yogurt. These are forms of exploitation according to vegan belief. However, I see a hypocrisy in consuming farmed plants. When the harvesting is done, small animals and insects become collateral damage.
    śivasya hridayam viṣṇur viṣṇoscha hridayam śivaḥ

  5. #5
    Join Date
    February 2012
    Posts
    1,525
    Rep Power
    2741

    Re: Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

    Namaste All

    These are very much enlightening replies, there is a lot of insight in them. Really, it appears that society now has a better use of words and their meaning in regards to the influence and impact of SD.

    For example, from such insights and from the many new websites appearing on the internet, there is a distinction in the overall perspective of what use to only be called "vegetarianism".

    The term "vegan" means much more than "vegetarianism". It means a broader commitment, such as EM noted "ahimsa", or as everyone else noted the larger impact to animals in regards to culture and its direct and daily relationships with other animals.

    It is really a bigger and broader question than many "vegetarians" may imagine! And as izi says, both cow and goat milk have benefits, so we should consider these gifts the cow and goat are giving us and obtain the gift in a more humane manner! Respecting the life and lifestyle of these wonderful friends! Jainarayan uses the term "avoid collateral damage".

    Om Namah Sivaya

  6. #6

    Re: Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

    Namaskar,

    How about rice milk or soya milk?

    Nowadays, they have soya milk with similar nutritional benefits as cow milk. I think it is a great alternative to cow milk, and some people actually enjoy its taste.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    August 2011
    Location
    Arizona, USA
    Posts
    183
    Rep Power
    237

    Re: Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

    namaste

    I am hearing many good points on this subject.

    From a naturalistic perspective mammals give milk for their young until they are weaned.
    Only man will continue to drink milk after weaning and not from his own species! So we
    don't need milk for our health and there are some health detriments associated with it.

    From an ahinsa perspective, Gandhi did not want to take milk because of the ways cows
    were treated in India and I am sure that they are treated far worse in the United States.

    One animal rights activist said
    ... when it comes to cruelty, I think there is more cruelty in a glass of milk than a steak.
    ... after she gives birth, babies are stolen - let me tell you something (it's) the worst scream
    I have ever heard and I've heard them all firsthand.
    Here is the relevant portion of a talk he gave at a school:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4#t=3572s

    When animals are commodities they will be treated as slaves. From the way
    they are forcefully impregnated in order to maintain milk flow to the way their
    calves are heartlessly wrenched from them and sold to beef producers or
    raised in veal crates to the way the dairy cattle are slaughtered for beef
    after their productivity wanes. All our hallmarks of slavery or something
    even worse. I can not in good conscience financially support the misery
    and violence that is an integral part of commercial dairy in the United States.

    Hari Aum
    Last edited by R Gitananda; 07 September 2012 at 03:01 PM.
    With our ears may we hear what is good.
    With our eyes may we behold thy righteousness.
    Tranquil in body, may we who worship thee find rest.

    AUM Peace Peace Peace

  8. #8
    Join Date
    August 2011
    Location
    Arizona, USA
    Posts
    183
    Rep Power
    237

    Re: Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

    namaste

    Indeed. I enjoy Silk unsweetened organic soy milk.
    Besides rice and soy milk there is also almond milk,
    hemp milk, coconut milk, oat milk and hazelnut milk!

    There is also delicious ice cream, cheeses and other
    non-dairy 'dairy' products derived from some of the above.

    Hari Aum


    Quote Originally Posted by Brishti View Post
    Namaskar,

    How about rice milk or soya milk?

    Nowadays, they have soya milk with similar nutritional benefits as cow milk. I think it is a great alternative to cow milk, and some people actually enjoy its taste.
    With our ears may we hear what is good.
    With our eyes may we behold thy righteousness.
    Tranquil in body, may we who worship thee find rest.

    AUM Peace Peace Peace

  9. #9
    Join Date
    June 2011
    Location
    NJ, USA
    Age
    66
    Posts
    1,674
    Rep Power
    1694

    Re: Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

    Namaste.

    It's actually not the dairy cows in the US that are mistreated. Though "mistreated" is subjective. Dairy cows are a different breed than beef cattle (steers, castrated juvenile males). It's true dairy cows are confined to pens when they are from factory farms, but the pens are kept immaculately clean. It's not in the best interest of the dairy farm to have sick and weak "cash cows", pardon the pun, who cannot produce milk. And then of course there are many family-owned dairy farms where the cows are pasture fed, returning to the pens only for milking and protection, much as they would return to the old wooden barn. It is the beef cattle (which are not used to produce dairy) that are kept in less than optimal conditions, but I think we'll not discuss that, as beef is not an option to begin with.
    śivasya hridayam viṣṇur viṣṇoscha hridayam śivaḥ

  10. #10
    Join Date
    August 2011
    Location
    Arizona, USA
    Posts
    183
    Rep Power
    237

    Re: Is Drinking Milk supporting Slavery?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jainarayan View Post
    Namaste.

    ... Dairy cows are a different breed than beef cattle (steers, castrated juvenile males). ...
    namaste

    Yes, only around 19% of the U.S. beef supply comes from dairy cows which have been slaughtered because of lagging milk production.[13]

    Hari Aum

    Female calves (heifers) with dairy breeding may be kept as replacement cows for the dairy herd. If a replacement cow turns out to be a substandard producer of milk, she then goes to market and can be slaughtered for beef. Male calves can either be used later as a breeding bull or sold and used for veal or beef. Dairy farmers usually begin breeding or artificially inseminating heifers around 13 months of age.[8] A cow's gestation period is approximately nine months.[9] Newborn calves are removed from their mothers quickly, usually within three days, as the mother/calf bond intensifies over time and delayed separation can cause extreme stress on the calf.[10] Domestic cows can live to 20 years, however those raised for dairy rarely live that long, as the average cow is removed from the dairy herd around age four and marketed for beef.[11][12] In 2009, approximately 19% of the US beef supply came from cull dairy cows: cows that can no longer be seen as an economic asset to the dairy farm.[13] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_cattle
    With our ears may we hear what is good.
    With our eyes may we behold thy righteousness.
    Tranquil in body, may we who worship thee find rest.

    AUM Peace Peace Peace

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Ganesh milk miracle
    By Rudy in forum Canteen
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 18 November 2011, 06:17 PM
  2. guru kripA vilAsam (On the Greatness of the Guru)
    By saidevo in forum Bhakti & Karma
    Replies: 41
    Last Post: 11 October 2011, 11:42 PM
  3. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 24 November 2010, 07:51 PM
  4. Why is cows milk not himsa?
    By wcrow in forum Vegetarianism
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 29 April 2010, 12:00 PM
  5. Miracle!!
    By satay in forum Hot Topics
    Replies: 61
    Last Post: 07 April 2008, 11:15 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •