Abuse at Dairy Farm, and elsewhere?

It is chilling to watch the undercover footage of extreme animal brutality at Conklin Farms in Ohio. I actually couldn't watch the whole video. After the first 30 seconds, I watched with one eye open, then I closed both eyes and just listened. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

If you're too afraid to watch, here is the brief report from Mercy For Animals:

During a four-week investigation between April and May, MFA’s investigator documented farm workers:

• Violently punching young calves in the face, body slamming them to the ground, and pulling and throwing them by their ears
• Routinely using pitchforks to stab cows in the face, legs and stomach
• Kicking “downed” cows (those too injured to stand) in the face and neck – abuse carried out and encouraged by the farm’s owner
• Maliciously beating restrained cows in the face with crowbars – some attacks involving over 40 blows to the head
• Twisting cows’ tails until the bones snapped
• Punching cows’ udders
• Bragging about stabbing, dragging, shooting, breaking bones, and beating cows and calves to death

DO NOT EAT DAIRY PRODUCTS THAT COME FROM INDUSTRIAL DAIRY FARMS. PLEASE.

But...how do we, as conscious consumers, determine what constitutes an organically and humanely raised cow?

The term "organic": In the U.S., in 2002, the National Organic Program was enacted by federal legislation to monitor the use of the term "organic". The USDA defines three levels of organics. Products made entirely with certified organic ingredients and methods can be labeled "100% organic". Products with at least 95% organic ingredients can use the word "organic". Both of these categories may also display the USDA organic seal. A third category, containing a minimum of 70% organic ingredients, can be labeled "made with organic ingredients". In addition, products may also display the logo of the certification body that approved them. Products made with less than 70% organic ingredients can not advertise this information to consumers and can only mention this fact in the product's ingredient statement.

The USDA requires that meat, milk, and eggs labeled organic must 1) be raised on organic feed, 2) be traced throughout their life, 3) not be fed antibiotics or growth hormones, 4) have "access to outdoors." Note: "Access to outdoors" means nothing, since the USDA doesn't have a definition for it and relies instead on producer testimonials.

According to Jonathan Safran Foer, in Eating Animals, "organic" signifies "not nothing, but a whole lot less than we give it credit for." "Organic foods in general are almost certainly safer and often have a smaller ecological footprint and better health value. They are not, though, necessarily more humane...You can call your turkey organic and torture it daily."


Or think about this. Chickens are meant to eat a mix of bugs, grasses, and grains. But those "organic vegetarian" eggs you've been picking up come from chickens fed a diet of organic grains.  Sure they're not laden with pesticides, but they're not as healthy as you might think.  The chickens are not getting the protein (from bugs) or the nutrients (from grasses) that they need, and accordingly, their eggs are not as good for you as those that come from chickens raised on pasture.

If you care about animal welfare, eating healthfully, and eating organic, then go to the farmers markets and talk to your farmers. You can't just buy "organic" meat and eggs at Whole Foods and think you're protecting animals or eating 100% organic ingredients. Show you care, by finding out where the animals live, what they are fed, and how their products are transported. You'll feel so much better when you do.