The way we generally treat cows has to do with our lack of compassion yes, but it also has a lot to do with the population explosion.
In the far-gone days, there would be no harm taking a jug or two of milk from a lactating cow. That would have been enough for a family's needs and enough every day to make butter and cheese from what was left over. It would have done no harm to either cow or calf.
I knew someone who lived in a 'bothy' in a field, and had his own cows, and that is what he did. It did no harm, and that man was full of care and compassion for his cows.
But to meet spiralling demand, we have ended up subjecting cows to a painful harsh life. And people have become either uninformed, or numb about it.
In the far-gone days, there would be no harm taking a jug or two of milk from a lactating cow. That would have been enough for a family's needs and enough every day to make butter and cheese from what was left over. It would have done no harm to either cow or calf.
I knew someone who lived in a 'bothy' in a field, and had his own cows, and that is what he did. It did no harm, and that man was full of care and compassion for his cows.
But to meet spiralling demand, we have ended up subjecting cows to a painful harsh life. And people have become either uninformed, or numb about it.
