Got Misery?

Straight from the Experts

Those who study animal welfare say the dairy industry is broken—and it’s time to change it.

“High milk yield can predispose cows to disease through physiological, metabolic, physical, and psychological factors. Metabolic factors include increased requirements to support digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients. This has led to prolonged periods and deep nadirs of negative energy balance that predispose dairy cows to a range of metabolic and infectious diseases/disorders, compromised welfare, and poor fertility with high culling risk.”

—Professor Clive Phillips, The Risks to Dairy Cow Health of High Milk Production Levels (2025)
Editor in Chief of Animals, Springer Nature Animal Welfare Series, and CABI Animal Welfare and Behaviour Cases; Adjunct Professor, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, Australia;
Visiting Professor, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science

Straight from the Experts

Those who study animal welfare say the dairy industry is broken—and it’s time to change it.

“Intensive dairy production typically results in cows enduring poor welfare throughout their severely shortened lives. Their average lifespan in these types of farms is usually 4.5 to six years, whereas the natural life expectancy of dairy cattle is around 20 years. Genetic selection for high yield already predisposes these animals to serious health issues, such as lameness and udder infections. In addition, a production strategy that relies on unnaturally frequent impregnations with the objective of maximizing milk output, coupled with distressing environments and practices that prevent them from performing patterns of behavior that are essential for their well-being, contributes to further deteriorating their quality of life.”

—Andrew Knight, BSc./BVMS, PhD (Griff.), PhD (Winch.), MANZCVS, DipECAWBM (AWSEL), DipACAW, FRCVS, PFHEA Veterinary Professor of Animal Welfare; Adjunct Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia; Adjunct Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Queensland; Associate Lecturer in Animal Welfare, University of Winchester, UK; EBVS® and RCVS Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics, and Law; American and New Zealand Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare; Fellow, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; Member, Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Animal Welfare chapter); Principal Fellow, Advance HE

Straight from the Experts

Those who study animal welfare say the dairy industry is broken—and it’s time to change it.

“For years, we have been taught that separating calves from their mothers at birth is a way to save them from certain death. But the truth is much simpler: It is being done for profit. That amount of milk that would go to the calf—milk that cannot be sold—becomes the tipping point in an increasingly industrialized farming system. … What people tend to overlook in this industrial model are the profound benefits that mother and calf gain from staying together for as long as possible—with a gradual and not abrupt weaning. First, cows experience fewer cases of mastitis, and calves have fewer episodes of diarrhea. But perhaps most importantly, there are emotional and developmental gains. Calves raised by their mothers show lower stress levels and greater social and cognitive skills. Learning from adults is essential for coping with the stressful stimuli of farm life—and no one teaches better than a mother.”

—Monica Battini, PhD, ECAWBM Assistant Professor, University of Milan, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DiSAA)

—Marta Brscic, DVM, PhD, DipECAWBM (AWSEL) Associate Professor, University of Padova, Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS)