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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About DS drinking milk

273 replies

darwinsbabe · 23/04/2017 12:34

I have a DS who is almost 3.

My DH drinks water all the time and we encourage my son to do the same but he always refuses and asks for milk instead. Even with the lure of diluting juice he will opt for milk. My DH thinks he drinks too much milk and not enough water and gets worked up about it. I'm just glad he's drinking and it's something healthy.

Aibu to tell my husband to calm down and continue to let my DS drink milk?

OP posts:
TinselTwins · 23/04/2017 16:30

Ignore those saying that milk is disgusting. They just don't like it

I

derxa · 23/04/2017 16:31

AI is not uncommon, your nice "local" milk provider probably uses AI Yes my dad used the AI system back in the 70's. It's the emotive description I object to. Semen is taken off the bull using a teaser cow who is just standing in the next pen. The bull jumps up and ejaculates into an inanimate hole. Any cow who I've seen being inseminated just stands there. It's not brutal and it's over in seconds.

TinselTwins · 23/04/2017 16:33

Any cow who I've seen being inseminated just stands there. It's not brutal and it's over in seconds

so if I shove something up your fanjo it's okay so long as I'm quick?

ChocChocPorridge · 23/04/2017 16:33

I'm not a farmer, but I'm from the countryside. I've helped out on a dairy farm, and, perhaps just because it was a small farm, but I didn't see any of this cruelty.

I was close by while some cows were being inseminated - and I have to say the guy doing the insemination was the one having a hard time, the cows didn't even seem to notice!

The rest of the time, they just pootled about from place to place - from the barn to the milking shed (joining a queue that reminded me of our canteen at work), out to the fields while the farmer mucked out the barn, eat all day then back to the milking shed and into the barn for the night. Food pellets and hay provided when they couldn't go out to grass - didn't hear any screaming, or see any poor behaviour from the farm hands at all.

My kids drink whole milk or water. Perfectly happy, healthy, hydrated kids. Little of everything does you good as my Grandmother used to say.

ChocChocPorridge · 23/04/2017 16:34

^Any cow who I've seen being inseminated just stands there. It's not brutal and it's over in seconds

so if I shove something up your fanjo it's okay so long as I'm quick?^

Have you ever watched a bull going at it? Given the choice I suspect the cow would definitely prefer the AI.

Iamastonished · 23/04/2017 16:40

"Everyone needs water."

It comes in many forms. It doesn't just have to be pure tap water. I drink water, but don't love it, but I do enjoy a cup of tea. I prefer my water tea flavoured, and there is nothing wrong with that (and I drink it with milk. Black tea is horrible IMO).

The myth that people have to drink 8 glasses of just water every day has long since been debunked.

Bumplovin · 23/04/2017 16:43

crappicino that's not strictly true when I had gestational diabetes it was the lactose in cows milk that sent my blood sugar sky high. Unsweetened almond milk didn't cause any spike in blood sugar

ChocChocPorridge · 23/04/2017 16:43

This reminds me of many years ago when I was an active member of a low-carb forum. Where I was informed that only pure water counted towards drinks that day, that even a squirt of low-sugar squash, which was within my carb limit, should discount it from my count.

I pointed out that by that reasoning, it was completely illogical for me to count it if I alternately swigged neat cordial and water, but not if I mixed them together in a glass first.

Humans have been drinking milk from whatever animal they'd domesticated for a long time. As part of a balanced diet I find it hard to get het up about it - and it's certainly hydrating, and has plenty to recommend it if you like it, more than squash for example.

TinselTwins · 23/04/2017 16:49

Have you ever watched a bull going at it? Given the choice I suspect the cow would definitely prefer the AI.

Yes I have, it is brutal and nature is gross, I still don't think anyone would chose enforced AI though, or to have it so that their babies can be taken away from them while they're forced to lactate far beyond natural levels.

If you actually read my posts I've actually explained why farmers do use AI!

It's not the worst part of the process at all, it's still not nice, it's not a nice life, it's barley a life, but hey! they get to eat some grass at some point so it's cool...

Pinkandwhiteblossoms · 23/04/2017 16:55

you didn't see it, so it doesn't happen, choc?

ChocChocPorridge · 23/04/2017 17:00

No, I've seen appalling treatment of animals and humans alike - I just don't think that it has to be that way, and I accept that it happens because I drink milk/cheese/yoghurt without owning my own cow/goat/sheep.

At some point you have to decide which evils you're going to accept to feed your family, and which you aren't, and I'm at peace with how the dairy cows I've encountered have been treated, and hope that the UK will step in and deal with those who don't treat their animals well.

I've also lived a lot of other places, and the UK beats itself up more over animal welfare than most, and yet looks after its animals much better.

Therealslimshady1 · 23/04/2017 17:01

So many vegans on here!

TinselTwins · 23/04/2017 17:03

and I'm at peace with how the dairy cows I've encountered have been treated, and hope that the UK will step in and deal with those who don't treat their animals well.

have you ever used a breastpump?
There is no "nice" way.

Pinkandwhiteblossoms · 23/04/2017 17:05

Veganism is more mainstream. I think because there are so many dairy alternatives. Butter, cheese, cream - chocolate - you can all get without using dairy products whereas I don't think twenty years ago you could.

ChocChocPorridge · 23/04/2017 17:10

Yeah, I've used a breast pump - it wasn't fun, but it wasn't actively unpleasant either - and as I said, the relief was nice - I do sympathise with over-full cow breasts.

I was a milker (since we're comparing to cows) for 3 years with my first - I didn't find it unduly taxing, although it was certainly easier having it extracted by a baby rather than a machine, it wasn't painful or uncomfortable the times I pumped instead.

derxa · 23/04/2017 17:12

I've also lived a lot of other places, and the UK beats itself up more over animal welfare than most, and yet looks after its animals much better.
I agree. We're an anthropomorphic society, ascribing all sorts of human emotions to animals. This extends to pets. FWIW I hate seeing single rabbits or birds in cages. They're social animals. Obese dogs and cats.
I could go on.

Pinkandwhiteblossoms · 23/04/2017 17:13

I hate that too derxa but human or not, animals feel fear, pain, discomfort and sure as heck get upset when separated from their three day old.

derxa · 23/04/2017 17:14

You do know that cows queue voluntarily up at the field gate to be milked. They want to be milked.

lasttimeround · 23/04/2017 17:16

But I just want to eat the animals

TinselTwins · 23/04/2017 17:17

You do know that cows queue voluntarily up at the field gate to be milked. They want to be milked

What else do they know?
A dog will keep walking up to an owner that beats it!
A horse will allow a rider that whips it too much to mount it

If you were forced to lactate at double or triple a natural amount, you'ld want your boobs drained too, that doesn't mean you'ld be enjoying the lifestyle

TinselTwins · 23/04/2017 17:19

I was a milker (since we're comparing to cows) for 3 years with my first - I didn't find it unduly taxing, although it was certainly easier having it extracted by a baby rather than a machine, it wasn't painful or uncomfortable the times I pumped instead

and if you were forced to triple your milk production, and you weren't doing it for the benefit of your child, and you had to do it for life?

Pinkandwhiteblossoms · 23/04/2017 17:19

Yes derxa, because secretly they love being pregnant and having their calves removed? Or because their udders are uncomfortable as the calf who was meant to relieve that discomfort is dead.

ChocChocPorridge · 23/04/2017 17:19

Cows have been bred to lactate a huge amount - but it's still a natural amount, albeit encouraged by frequent milking.

My sister lactated pints compared to my fluid ounces, she donated to the local hospital she had so much to spare - we were both naturally lactating though, we both had to empty our breasts for comfort, I'm not sure that's a strong argument for farming an animal for milk being inherently cruel.

Yukbuck · 23/04/2017 17:26

Those of you saying cows are being forced to produce triple the amount... is there milk out there that's a bit like buying 'free range eggs' ?
Seriously I want to know this. Obviously there's a huge disagreement here and I've not read the full thread. But I'm genuinely interested in what the alternative is. I have an allergy to nuts so can't have almond milk and I also hate soya milk... what alternative is there? Am I just to never have milk again?!

ChocChocPorridge · 23/04/2017 17:30

and if you were forced to triple your milk production, and you weren't doing it for the benefit of your child, and you had to do it for life

I don't know, I'm not a cow - I certainly have to provide for my children in other ways for a fair chunk of my life. I've provided for other people's children (albeit temporarily), and didn't feel that was a bad thing.

As far as I know, cows aren't any better mothers than other animals - calves are often abandoned or kicked or whatever - you're doing exactly what I said people in the UK do, and anthropomorphising them - naturally (well, if they hadn't been bred to be dependant on us) death, disease and famine would be common. Mastitis from a calf dying, or being abandoned would not be unusual. I'm not saying that we're doing the cows a favour by farming them, but I am saying that it's not all doom and gloom compared to the hand nature could have dealt them