Humane Dairies?

[K8-EEE]

I might have mentioned being a bit of a cheese addict....I've cut waaay back but I love the damn stuff! My question is does anybody know any sources for cheesemakers that treat their animals in a humane way. I hate the idea of factory farmed milk but I would love to find some cheesemaker who keeps the animals happy. I hate those awful commercials for the "happy cows" in CA. They should sue those people, that's just deceptive advertising...

Also do dairies in other countries (EU, Skandanavia or whereever) have higher standards for how they treat the animals? If I thought so I would buy the imported stuff...just as a special treat, have I mentioned that I LOVE LOVE LOVE CHEESE???

[mzteris]

1. something like Free-range cows

maybe??

Look for the local "organic" dairies in your area and visit them to see how they treat their cows.

[Robeson]

2. I second what mzteris said. Check out if you have organic farmers....

...close to you, and visit their farms in order to see the conditions.

[Critters2]

3. I second what others have said

Look for local organic dairies, but check them out. The organic label may mean nothing when it comes to animal farms. One of the largest "organic" dairies is Horizon, which runs factory farms which just barely meet the USDA's organic standards. Horizon belongs to a large corporation, Dean's Foods. Smaller, local organic farms are likely to be better but it's best to check. Also, look for organic certification by an agency besides the USDA, like Oregon Tilth, Northeast Organic Farming Association, etc. There are also local farms that don't yet meet organic standards (or are lousy at record-keeping, like some parishioners of mine who have free-range cows and chickens) but where animals are treated more humanely than on the factory farms.

One way to find local organic and sustainable farmers is to look at
www.localharvest.org

[Chan790]

7. Go free-range rather than organic

the lack of use of hormones in organic farming means that dairy cows have to be impregnated more often to continue to lactate. This produces a lot (more) of "spare" baby cows who are subsequently sold into the veal industry because they are "unwanted/unneeded/an undesirable byproduct."

[peacebuzzard]

4. I gave up cheese. It was hard.

Loved the stuff. But I hate what happens to the cows.

Veggie cheese just doesn't make it. I tried several brands before I just gave up. I ended up giving the stuff to my dogs.

I have seen cheese factories before (my childhood, in Brazil) and I suppose it could happen. A happy cow. Happy cheese.

But for now I just refrain from the product. Let us know if you find anything. !

[Critters2]

5. Veggie cheese is just nasty

My dog wouldn't eat it. Honest. Just looked at it, then at me, as if to say "I don't know what that is, but it's not food. I know food."

[peacebuzzard]

6. My dogs eat anything.

broccoli and cauliflower stems, tomato cores, all fruits, chicken feed, (I try to keep them away when I feed my chicken family) The hounds even eat chicken poo. (now that is nasty). they love the soy: soy nuts, soybeans, eda mame, the high point of their day is when I start my cooking and eating dinner.