Small-scale farming is not the same as humane farming? Experts recommend creating the most comfortable indoor environment
A small-farmer milk direct delivery platform called "Fresh Milk Workshop" has appeared in Taiwan, China, and has won the support of many consumers, though some people believe that milk production is inhumane: dairy cows must be kept continuously pregnant, have their milk extracted throughout their entire lives, and are confined in small pens. If small farmers still practice intensive farming and use medication, then Fresh Milk Workshop is merely building another brand and remains unfriendly to the environment and living creatures.
Gong Jianjia, a veterinarian and founder of "Fresh Milk Workshop," said that society has long paid close attention to the animal welfare issues of dairy cows, but there is indeed demand now, so the discussion should focus on how to balance demand and animal welfare. Although some dairy farmers abroad use pasture grazing, whether that is truly best for animal welfare is still a matter of debate.
Grazing is best for dairy cows, but Taiwan, China's environment does not allow it; researching the "most comfortable indoor environment"
He explained that dairy cows are long-term farmed animals, and they become stressed in overly enclosed, stuffy, humid and cold places; they must stay in a ventilated, comfortable environment. Grazing requires sufficiently large space, which is very difficult to achieve in Taiwan, China, and cattle have certain nutritional needs that require professional nutritionists to formulate feed. If they graze outside, the cows' milk production will be affected, and to meet demand, more dairy cows might have to be raised, which is not necessarily better for animal welfare.
Chen Mingru, a professor in the Department of Animal Science and Technology at National Taiwan University who specializes in milk, believes that unless everyone becomes vegetarian, farm animals cannot disappear, and discussions of farm animal welfare should focus on "how to give them the most comfortable care throughout their lives." Achieving grazing in Taiwan, China is difficult for several reasons: first, the space is too small, and slopes steeper than 15 to 20 degrees will injure cattle's hooves; cattle also defecate a great deal, and if the pasture is not large enough, the manure will press down the grass so it cannot grow, and as soon as a cow lies down, its udder touches the manure, affecting health and milk quality.
She pointed out that grazing is better for cattle's hooves, and cattle should also be happier, but summers in Taiwan, China are too hot and unsuitable for dairy cows to move around outdoors, and grazing is also impossible when it rains. Animal welfare must take the actual environment into account, so many scholars are also researching the most suitable space size, flooring, nutritional composition, and softness of cow mats for dairy cows.
Mastitis is an important animal welfare issue; animal rights groups call for the release of relevant data
In addition, the connection between administering antibiotics and animal welfare is also worth pondering. Gong Jianjia believes that administering medication does not mean there is no animal welfare, just as people need medicine when sick; cows may develop inflammation after giving birth or catch colds when the weather changes, and if antibiotics are not administered, it is even crueler to the cattle. A veterinarian's duty is to give the right advice at the right time.
As for the issue of drug residues, he said that milk is one of the most strictly regulated industries in Taiwan, China. The milk collection trucks of major companies mix the raw milk of many small farmers, and once residues of antibiotics or other drugs are detected, they must compensate for the loss of an entire truckload, amounting to several hundred thousand yuan. Dairy farmers are therefore extremely cautious and comply with the safe withdrawal period.
Chen Yumin, director of the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan, said that dairy cows must be kept continuously pregnant to produce milk, so mastitis has always been an important animal welfare issue. Many countries have long established relevant standards, and she hopes Fresh Milk Workshop can also release relevant data so consumers can trust it more.