I recently drove from southern California to northern California. On my way, along interstate 5, I saw a couple farms with cows. I saw free grazing cows and then I saw cow confinements. The cow confinements had hundreds of cows in tiny stalls, where there was barely enough room for the cow to even take half a step forward. When driving by, it broke my heart to see those poor cows behind bars. My heart just dropped and felt as if injustice was being done. Whereas when I drove by the free cows, it brought a smile to my face and lifted my spirits. I ended up commenting to myself about how cute the cows are.

Cows provide to us one of the healthiest substances for our body…milk. When they provide us with so much nutrition, is it right to put cows behind bars? My answer is no. In order to mass produce milk, many farmers confine the cows and treat them inhumanely. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) “California’s dairy cows are crammed into huge lots, where they live covered in mud and their own feces for most of their miserable lives.”

My question to you is how can milk that comes from unhealthy cows actually be good for you. We have all heard someone in our lives say that food that is made with love always tastes good. Well, there is no love here…there is only sorrow, stress, and chemicals in this milk. That is why everyone should drink organic milk. Organic milk comes from free-range cows that are allowed to graze and feed upon fresh grass. Cows that produce organic milk are the happy cows that we like to smile at.

Although there are many companies out there that sell organic milk, one in particular that I use is Horizon Organic. Their dairy products are available all over the country in whole food grocery stores and local markets.

For more information on PETA and their efforts towards animal rights, please visit www.peta.org

PETA has also put together a site on information about cows, specifically in the state of California. Their website is www.unhappycows.com

For more information about Organic foods and products, please visit the Organic Consumers Association at www.organicconsumers.org

While doing my research for this article, I came across this site, which discusses USDA’s take on “grass-fed” cows. I thought that you might find this interesting.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_2002.cfm

Everyday, more and more people are going organic. So if you have not yet done so, please do join the organic movement and support not only natural, real food, but also support the ethical and moral treatment of animals. Remember, animals also have needs and feelings.

Varsha