Almost 600 million tonnes of cow’s milk are produced every year.
The top 10 cow’s milk producing countries in the world are the United States, India, China, Brazil, Germany, Russia, France, New Zealand, Turkey and the UK.
Australia produces about 9000 million litres of cow’s whole milk every year. Dairy production in Australia is located mainly in coastal areas in the Southeast of Australia. Although there are dairy farms in every state and territory in Australia, Victoria is the biggest producer with 65% of the nation’s production.
There are many considerations to evaluate for a suitable region for a dairy farm such as the ability for pasture growth, reliable water supplies, proximity to processors and the access to a reliable labour force.
There are many conventional practices used in dairy farming such as organic and bio-dynamic dairy farming.
Organic Dairy Farming is a practice where cows are fed certified organic feed. Farmers have to use natural composts, manures, and other preparations to improve the soils capacity to grow pasture. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic chemicals, fertilizers and Genetically Modified Organisms due to the strict regulations of how animal health and welfare and environmental sustainably are managed. Cows must also have continuous access pasture, not to a feedlot.
Bio-Dynamic Dairy Farming is a specific type of organic farming where there are holistically views of the farm such as the soil, plants and animals, as a self-sustaining system. Bio-Dynamic Dairy Farms use manures and composts as well as specific herbal and mineral preparations to improve the soil and plants structure and health. The cows also have to be given certified biodynamic feed as part of the system.
Some other small conventional practices include access to pasture, the use of antibiotics, the use of synthetic chemicals and fertilisers on pasture and the use of genetically modified products in feed.
There are many devastating unsustainable practices used in dairy farming.
Bobby Calves is the most overwhelming practice where premature male calves are taken away from their mothers, a few hours after being born, to be slaughtered. For cows to produce milk, they have to give birth to a calf every year. Male calves are not wanted due to the fact that they cannot produce milk so therefore they are not wanted. The calves are pulled away from their mothers, distressed and distraught and then they are sent to slaughterhouses where they are processed. In Australia, about 400,000 bobby calves are processed each year.
Dehorning, Castration, Branding and Electro-immobilisation are many other unsustainable practices.
Dehorning is where the horns of calves are cut, sawn or scraped off using knives, wires, saws, shears and scooping implements. This procedure is used to make it easier to transport and handle cattle.
Castration is where the Male calf’s scrotums are cut open and their testes are pulled out and cut off. This then leads to their testicles falling off due to a rubber ring that is tightened around their scrotum and can cause inflammation, infections, chronic pain and may be fatal.
Branding is where the calves are pinned down to be pressed with a branding iron that has been dipped in a coolant. This can cause to stress from the poor handling, and the restraint can least to further injuries.
Electro-immobilisation is where cattle over 6 months old are electrocuted by a current. This leads to the animal feeling the pain, paralysed and unable to express his natural response to flee or to fight.
These practices have many effects on the environment and on the human health and wellbeing.
Greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide from dairy production can affect climate change.
Airborne emissions of ammonia can damage habitats which can lead to the loss of species diversity. The emissions from farm activities can also impact the air quality.
The runoff of manure and fertilizers can pollute water resources. The nutrients in the waterways contribute to the growth of algae which decreases oxygen from the water plants and animals.
One-third of global land suffers desertification due to deforestation, overgrazing and poor agricultural procedures
Dairy farming is one of the major contributors to soil erosion. The loss of topsoil is from the turning of forests into pasture, overgrazing and soil impaction from cattle’s hooves. This damage can take decades or centuries to be replaced.
Diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans are called zoonotic diseases.
Direct contact with cattle that have infected bodily fluids containing pathogens, can transfer microorganisms to humans. The transmission of these pathogens including ingestion through contaminated water or food contact with contaminated surfaces and insect transmission such as ticks.
Bacterial Diseases such as E. coli and salmonella are the best-known illnesses caused by bacteria. These are spread from cattle to humans through contacts with faeces or consumption of undercooked or contaminated meat and unpasteurized milk products.
There are many other types of diseases that can be transmitted from cattle to humans such as viral and parasite diseases.
Organic Dairy Farming is a more sustainable option as it is a healthier option for both humans and animals. The animals are not fed hormones and antibiotics and are fed organically grown pasture. Organic farms are less harmful to the environment and use more sustainable products for a better and healthier farm.
There are many unsustainable practices that can affect the environment and the human health and well-being, but there are many conventional practices undertaken to prevent these unsustainable practices.
Maybe next time you have a glass of milk or a slice of cheese, just think about what is happening to those bobby claves and what is the most sustainable product to buy.