In the dairy industry, there is a terminology used for cows who cannot produce the requisite amount of milk anymore, they are called ‘spent cows’. It is known that cows are selectively bred and pumped with artificial drugs to increase their milk production (queue the likes of the A2, hormone-free milk businesses). The cows are usually able to be milked for 6 years after which they can’t produce the same amount of milk that they used to earlier.

If you have never wondered what happens to these cows after they are spent, then you’re missing a huge piece of the puzzle.

MAKE IRONY IN INDIA

For a nation that selectively reveres its cows, India is among one of the top five exporters of beef. India has banned the slaughter and sale of cows for meat, but buffaloes have not been so lucky. Ever since the ban was imposed, cow vigilantism got its teeth and humans are not being spared from the violence either.

India is also the second-largest exporter of leather garments in the world. The leather industry in India is able to produce 3 billion sq. feet of hides accounting for 13% of the leather trade of the world. 9% of the world’s footwear production can be attributed to India. These are statistics put out by the government itself.

The export of water buffalo meat known as carabeef is an unorganized sector, meaning that there is no way for the government to actually ensure only buffaloes are being slaughtered. As for leather, the government allows 100% FDI in the industry with a 30% mandatory ‘local sourcing’ clause.

This leaves the purposely unanswered questions of what happens to the male calves in the dairy industry, do you think they live happy, fulfilling lives? And what happens to the cows who are spent and old? Where do they go? These are easy questions to answer, but no one will say it.

COMPLICIT AND COMPLACENT

If you consume dairy products in India and are even slightly impressed with yourself about not causing any harm to animals, think again. Water buffalo milk accounts for 50% of the milk production in India. So even if you are not directly consuming milk from a buffalo, you are most probably consuming it via a derivative like ghee, butter, or cheese.

A lot of butter brands contain buffalo milk

The excuses are many- Ayurveda, calcium, protein, ghee, A2- take your pick. The repercussions of those justifications are smartly hidden away from us. When you choose to consume animal milk in any form, you are backing a much larger trade, one where animals are treated as commodities and there is only one way to stop the contribution.

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