{"id":124834,"date":"2010-06-22T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-06-22T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.peta.org\/issues\/cows\/"},"modified":"2025-05-06T17:56:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T00:56:44","slug":"cows","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/issues\/animals-used-for-food\/factory-farming\/cows\/","title":{"rendered":"Cows Used for Food"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In the U.S., more than 29 million cows suffer and die in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/issues\/animals-used-for-food\/animals-used-food-factsheets\/veal-byproduct-cruel-dairy-industry\/\">meat<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/issues\/animals-used-for-food\/animals-used-food-factsheets\/cows-milk-cruel-unhealthy-product\/\">dairy<\/a> industries every year. When still very young, <strong>many cows are branded<\/strong> (burned with hot irons), <strong>dehorned<\/strong> (their horns are gouged out or cut or burned off), <strong>and castrated<\/strong> (male cattle have their testicles ripped out of their scrotums)\u2014<strong><em>all without painkillers<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-player\"><div class=\"widescreen-wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Beef in Reverse\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F0zVEntiQC4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once they have grown large enough, <strong>cows raised for beef are sent to massive, filthy outdoor feedlots<\/strong>, where they are fattened for slaughter. Cows on <strong>dairy farms are repeatedly artificially impregnated<\/strong> (in order to keep their milk flowing) and then<strong> traumatically separated from their newborn calves<\/strong> until finally their bodies wear out and <strong>they are sent to be killed<\/strong>, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-beluga-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-990f8f10 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Why Dairy is Scary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-75\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-kale-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/features\/cows-killed-cheese\/\" style=\"box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--crisp)\">Are Cows Killed for Cheese? <em>\u2192<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-75\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-kale-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/features\/dairy-industry-cruelty\/\" style=\"box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--crisp)\">18 Images Big Dairy Doesn\u2019t Want You to See <em>\u2192<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Like animals of all species, cows form strong maternal bonds with their calves, and on dairy farms, mother cows can be heard frantically crying out for their calves for several days after they have been separated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-player\"><div class=\"widescreen-wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Babies Stolen From Their Mothers\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iUOh_iQFb6M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cows are gentle giants\u2014curious, clever animals<\/strong> who have been known to go to extraordinary lengths to escape from slaughterhouses. They are gregarious, preferring to spend their time with other cows, and <strong>they form complex relationships<\/strong>, much like dogs in packs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-75\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-kale-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/lifestyle\/food\/top-10-reasons-eat-cows\/\" style=\"box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--crisp)\">Top Reasons Not To Eat Cows <em>\u2192<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cattle may be transported hundreds of miles<\/strong> in all weather extremes, typically <strong>without food or water, to the slaughterhouse<\/strong>. Cows who don&#8217;t die on the way to slaughter from exposure or traffic accidents are <strong>shot in the head with a captive-bolt gun and hung up by one leg then have their throats cut <\/strong>before finally being skinned and gutted. Some cows <strong>remain fully conscious throughout the entire process<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>In an interview with <em>The Washington Post<\/em>, one slaughterhouse worker said, <strong>&#8220;They die piece by piece.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Help Cows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You can help put an end to these atrocities. Order <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/lifestyle\/food\/free-vegan-starter-kit\/\">PETA&#8217;s free vegan starter kit<\/a> for tips and recipes to help you make the transition to a cruelty-free diet today.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-bright-red-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/headlines.peta.org\/help-cows-meat-dairy-leather\/\" style=\"box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--crisp)\">Take Rapid Actions for Cows Killed for Meat, Dairy, and Leather <em>\u2192<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Go Vegan Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/lifestyle\/food\/the-cereal-lovers-guide-to-plant-based-milk\/\">The Ultimate Guide to the Best Vegan Milks<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/lifestyle\/food\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-vegan-cheese\/\">Everything You Need to Know About Vegan Cheese<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/lifestyle\/food\/meat-replacements\/\">Vegan Meat Brands That Are Changing Everything<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/lifestyle\/food\/vegan-steak-products\/\">Must-Try Vegan Steak Products<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<input class=\"fooboxshare_post_id\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"124834\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your source for great-tasting vegan and vegetarian recipes, information on all aspects of vegan and vegetarian living, news about PETA&#8217;s campaigns to stop factory farming, tips and free stuff to help you promote a vegetarian lifestyle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":888540,"parent":124692,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"","beyondwords_integration_method":"","beyondwords_project_id":"","beyondwords_content_id":"","beyondwords_preview_token":"","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4,9,3],"placement":[309],"class_list":["post-124834","issue","type-issue","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dairy","category-factory-farming","category-vegan","placement-issues-landing-food"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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