PETA activists to protest abuse of cows for milk

Ahmedabad, May 30 (UNI) The activists of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will protest against the cruelty meted out to cows and buffaloes by the dairy industry on World Milk Day tomorrow in the city.

PETA Assistant Campaign Co-ordinator Sachin Bangera today said, PETA activists will hand out leaflets reading 'Dhood: Not so cool, dude', and encourage people to stay away from milk. Some others will be bound to wheelchairs, covered in bandages and carry placards with message 'the dark side of dairy'.

''To meet the growing demand for milk, farmers impregnate cows repeatedly. Male calves are either sent to be killed or left on the roads to fend for themselves by rummaging in garbage cans. Many farmers can not afford to feed their cows so they leave the animals on the road and only take them in for milking. Once a cow is deemed no longer useful, she is either sent to an illegal abattoir or abandoned in the city to starve,'' Mr Bangera told reporters here.

''Cows and buffaloes, who are raised for their milk are forced to live in hideous conditions. They are kept constantly chained by their necks in narrow stalls, unable to stretch or move normally.

Lack of proper food causes them to suffer from digestive problems and lack of exercise causes lameness. To force the animals to produce unnaturally large amount of milk, farmers feed them growth hormones and other drugs - which are later consumed by people who drink the animal's milk,'' said Mr Bangera.

Doctors around the world are now realising that dairy products are not even required for healthful human diet, he said.

Dairy products have even been shown to cause harm. It is estimated that 25 per cent of Northern India's population is lactose intolerant,'' he said.

UNI