Cows Are Cool!

Ever looked into the big brown eyes of a cow? They’re enough to make you melt! Cows are wonderful, friendly animals who don’t want to be made into hamburgers or steaks or roasts. So why are you still eating them?

In nature, cows are vegetarians, but those who are raised for food are only allowed to graze freely for the first couple of months of their lives. After that, they are fed ground-up animals, like dogs and cats, and even feces. They’re pumped full of hormones and antibiotics that are illegal in many countries so that they’ll grow more quickly. Remember, when you eat them, you’re eating all that gross stuff, too! Cows are also dehorned and branded without any painkillers.

Did you know that cows are actually a lot like us? They play games, hold grudges, and form lasting friendships—some calves make lifelong friends shortly after they are born! Cows can see in color and can actually tell people apart by their shape and the color of their clothing.

Cows are excellent mothers who are very loving and protective of their calves—they even take turns babysitting for each other! And despite their size, cows have been known to jump fences to search for lost calves. Oh, yeah, and that milk that they make—it’s for their babies, not for you!

Cows raised for their milk are seen as nothing more than milk-making machines. They are pumped full of growth hormones to increase milk production, but they’re not built to make that much milk, so they get painful infections. Guess what that means? Pus! Dairy products are full of fat, pesticides, and pus—yep, that’s right, pus! And who wants pus in their food?! Not us, that’s for sure.

Male calves are a “byproduct” of the dairy industry. They are often taken from their mothers on the day that they’re born. Calves raised for veal are kept in tiny crates that are so small that they can’t even turn around. After about 17 weeks of this horrible life, they are killed.

Changed your mind about “beef” and dairy products? Thought so! There are lots of alternatives available. You can even get meatless meatballs! Ask Mom to look for Boca Burgers or Boca Veggie Burger Crumbles—they’re super-good and taste just like the real thing…but without the cruelty! Replace your regular milk with White Wave’s Silk Soymilk—vanilla is our personal fave. Once you’ve tried Tofutti and Soy Delicious “nice” cream products, there’s no turning back! They’re always coming up with amazing new flavors, so you’re sure to be hooked. Love cheese and don’t think that you can give it up? Sure you can! Because Tofutti even makes soy cream cheese, cheese slices, and sour cream. No more pus for you!