by Robert Cohen
http://www.notmilk.com
The current issue of Hoard's Dairyman (January 5, 2001,
vol. 146, no. 2, p. 50), interviews dairymen for their methods as to how
they produce quality milk. Industry secrets teach naive milk consumers
things that they would rather not know.
** Matt and Karl Hendel, Minnesota Dairymen reveal:
"Cows are prepped four at a time. First, we use a dry
cloth to wipe off all the manure and sand on the teat base, teat, and
teat end. Next, we dip each teat twice...After dipping, a gloved hand is
used to work the dip into any manure left on the teat and teat end."
(Doesn't that make you want to drink directly from the
udder?)
** Patti and Dean Tohl, Oregon dairy farmers, do the
following:
"Cows are dry wiped to remove any loose dirt or
shavings, stripped, dipped with iodine, scrubbed, and then redipped."
** Vester and Alma Lou Manning (Virginia dairy farmers)
use this painful technique:
"We feel keeping cow's udders clipped is key number one.
Infected cows are milked last in separate container."
(Who gets to drink the milk from the infected cows?)
** Rick and Bernie Corcoran from Batavia, New York mean
business! Business means showing little or no compassion to their cows:
"We feel culling is a top priority role in producing
quality milk. Our cull rate is 25 to 30 percent."
(Culling means sending sick or non producing cows to the
slaughterhouse. The Corcorans replace 25-30 percent of their cows each
year).
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COWS
Perhaps the Corcoran brothers will read a story
appearing on page 52 of the same issue:
THE DO'S AND DONT'S OF CATTLE TRANSPORT
These quotes come from the article:
"Cattle in transit are really stressed."
"One rest stop every 24 to 30 hours is enough."
"Be sure to give proper preventive medicine for shipping
fever."
"Yelling at and beating animals makes them difficult to
handle."
"If properly used, and electric prod or hotshot is
effective in moving animals."
"Avoid overcrowding...give pregnant animals in the third
trimester more space."
"In cold weather, cattle can be loaded tighter than in
hot weather."
Go on to Elephant
Crushes Trainer to Death in Moscow
Return to 25 February 2001 Issue
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