To ask what is wrong with this cow

[SHAR0N]

This dairy cow belongs to the farmer in the next village and it looks very ill. Should I report it to the RSPCA?

I know nothing about cows or farming and don’t want to cause trouble if it’s normal. But I don’t want to ignore it if the animal is suffering.

Male dairy calves are often killed at birth,

I'm hoping this is just a typo

How can you do nothing? Won’t the guilt eat you up?

@ohoneohtwo nope, not a typo. Perhaps clumsily expressed. They are often killed within a day or two of being born. The current estimates are that 100,000 to 150,000 bull calves are shot within hours of birth in the UK. Those that aren’t killed immediately (where the calves are beef / dairy crosses) are killed for veal at around 8 months old.

A median age of 6.1 means that half the dairy cows in the UK have a life expectancy greater than 6.1

The half who do not reach the age of 6.1 will likely be unable to carry a calf, in which case they then go for beef, not to waste. A smaller number will be due to illness.

There’s no evidence that wild herds of cows live 15-20 years because we don’t have wild herds of cows in the UK. The likelihood is that disease/ malnutrition would get them (in a slow and painful way) long before that.

No male dairy calves are killed at birth on our farm. They all go to a beef farm to be reared there. The females are kept and raised here.

UK dairy welfare is incredibly high. Be aware that the internet is often trawled for statistics which relate to other countries. (I’ll wait for someone to be along shortly ready to misapply USA information on antibiotics, it always happens on these threads).

Holsteins have hips like coat hangers, but I'd agree with other posters that overall she is in v poor condition. But there is plenty of grass there so there is something else going on. I'd say she's elderly/sick and is nearing the end of her life.
Couple of other points - the majority of dairy cows are kept for up to ten years - culling a productive cow after 3 or 4 lactations would be hugely costly for the farmer, aside from anything else.
Bull calves are a concern - the industry needs to push a rapid uptake in the use of sexed semen.
The 'natural lifespan' argument is a fallacy. Only pets/zoo animals really get to live to their longest theoretical lifespans with human help - most wild animals die young from injury, predation, disease or hunger. It's not the length of life that's the issue, it's the quality of life, and yes there are welfare concerns in areas across the farming sector, which need addressing more rigorously and transparently.

@weepingwillow22

I would have thought these cows would have been separated becuase of infectious illness e.g johnes disease. I would try talking to the farmer before calling the rspca.

This. Johnes disease - much more widespread than people realise

@effyouseekaye

All of the links and statistics I’ve posted are in respect of U.K. dairy (I have been scrupulous about checking).

I don’t disagree that we have, generally, higher welfare farms than in many other countries. I just fundamentally don’t believe there is any way for dairy to be ethical, even if welfare standards are as high as they can be.

The closest thing the U.K. has to ‘ethical dairy’ in my view is something like the Ahimsa Dairy (www.ahimsamilk.org/who-we-are/), where no cows are killed, and the calves suckle their mothers until weaned. But even that model involves the exploitation of animals and contributes to the serious environmental harm caused by cattle herds. It is also very expensive, which means only a small proportion of the population would be willing / able to pay for it.

@SadSisters why do you think your choices are any more valid than someone who chooses to consume dairy? I fucking hate the way vegans derail threads and make it a mission to push an agenda. There's plenty wrong with soya milk - air miles, monoculture, deforestation.

Stop shoving your skewed views down other people's throats. And referring to artificial insemination as rape is offensive to anyone who's been raped (which I have).

If you don't normally see such thin cows on this farm don't report it. Sick animals are separated off and put on good grass whilst treatment is given. Ask the farmer if you want to know more.
I keep sheep and the high dependency (for sick sheep, old sheep, motherless lambs) field is totally overlooked by houses and I'm really glad I've got sensible neighbours who don't report me every time they see a sheep with issues. All the others are further away as they only need once a day attention not up to 6 times a day.

@StylishMummy

I didn’t say my choices were more valid, I simply explained why I hold the beliefs I do.

I didn’t derail the thread. I responded directly to another poster who was making a point about the average age of a U.K. dairy cow.

I haven’t mentioned or defended soya milk, which is not the only vegan milk available. I personally recommend oat milk, which is much more delicious and very environmentally friendly. I will point out, however, that soya milk is far better for the environment than dairy even accounting for its shortcomings.

My views are not skewed. I have backed up My points with links.

I did not mention rape or artificial insemination at any point. I assume you’re confusing me with another poster. I do not agree with comparing AI to rape and would never do so. I suggest you direct your comments at the person who made that comparison, rather than at me.

Referring to AI as rape is disgusting and detracts from your cause because you just piss people off.

My post was not directed at you @SadSisters

@SadSisters apologies if you weren't the one to make that comparison.

Do you see why someone posting on a thread about a poorly cow trying to push a vegan agenda is fucking irritating? We don't need links to information about how 'awful' you think the dairy industry is? It doesn't require your comments

apologies if you weren't the one to make that comparison

There’s no if about it. You can see yourself from the thread that it wasn’t me who said that.

Do you see why someone posting on a thread about a poorly cow trying to push a vegan agenda is fucking irritating? We don't need links to information about how 'awful' you think the dairy industry is? It doesn't require your comments

I don’t really care if you find it irritating, to be honest. It’s not up to you what people post on threads, and it’s nobody’s job to cater to what you want. I was responding to points and queries made by other posters. If you aren’t interested in that, just don’t engage.

It’s a weird thing that so many on this thread are annoyed at a vegan input when worried about a cow looking unwell in a field. That cow will have been through a lot worse than being starved.

@CalishataFolkart

It could be ill so best to report, but dairy cows can be very thin as well especially when they are at the end of their “useful” life. This picture is an award-winning Jersey cow and an example of “greatness.” Awful isn’t it?

Tell you what that's not what jersey cows look like in jersey!

Yes report to RSPCA. That animal is very thin, either because it is not getting enough nutrition or it has serious health problems. Either way, the farmer should have realised and done something about it. The fact that they haven't makes this a case of animal cruelty/negligence.

Looks like shes wasting away from being used too much. Report it, but cant imagine it'll do much. They'll probably kill her soon, hopefully she can walk her herself in because its bloody horrific the way they're dragged to slaughter. Doesn't look like she has much left to give. Poor thing, it's what dairy farming does to them.

thefarmuponthehill.com/2017/03/30/lets-get-things-straight/

the farmer should have realised and done something about it.

Given he has mooved the cow away from the main herd, perhaps he has?

The fact that they haven't makes this a case of animal cruelty/negligence.

This is ignorance of the very highest standard. You don't have a fucking clue the farmer has been negligent towards his cow

Oh didn't realise the was a vegan argument going on. I'm not one to push a vegan agenda but..
"Oh this poor cow looks so ill "
"Yeah that's what dairy farming does to them it's awful isn't it? If you dont consume dairy products then it wouldnt be as bad"
"Ah fuck off with your vegan agenda!"
???

Derxa have you read that link?

If you don't normally see such thin cows on this farm don't report it. Sick animals are separated off and put on good grass whilst treatment is given. Ask the farmer if you want to know more.
I keep sheep and the high dependency (for sick sheep, old sheep, motherless lambs) field is totally overlooked by houses and I'm really glad I've got sensible neighbours who don't report me every time they see a sheep with issues. All the others are further away as they only need once a day attention not up to 6 times a day. Such a sensible post. The cow is in that field for a reason and the farmer knows exactly what is wrong with her if anything. OP those pictures are very outing because each cow has distinctive markings. Come back and explain yourself.