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(state qty) Everyone’s GoingDairy-Freeguide @ £2.00 each

(state qty) Why You Don’tNeed Dairyguide @ £2.50 each

(state qty) The Dark Sideof Dairyreport @ £4.00 each

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(state qty) a free pocket guide Dairy-Free Pocket Rocket

Despite the myth of contentment, a dairy cowis the hardest worked of all farmed animals.She nurtures a growing baby inside her whilesimultaneously producing milk –up to 120pints a day. To keep the flow going, she isforcibly impregnated every year and herbabies are taken away a day or two after birth– year, after year, after year.

The hardest working mothers

The modern dairy cow is bred to produce over 10 timesmore milk than her calf would drink – an enormousphysical burden which takes its toll on her body

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Cows produce milk to feedtheir babies – just likehumans. It flows for the bestpart of a year and thenstops. More milk requiresmore babies. One every year!And for us to be able to havethat milk, the newborns haveto be removed. That’s thereality of dairy farming.

But there’s much more tothis cruel, dark side of dairywhich few people ever see.

“The dairy cow is exposed to moreabnormal physiological demandsthan any other farm animal,making her a supreme example of an overworked mother.”John Webster, Emeritus Professor of AnimalHusbandry at Bristol University’s ClinicalVeterinary Science Department

“There’s no reason to drink cow’smilk at any time in your life. It wasdesigned for calves, not humans andwe should all stop drinking it today.”Dr. Frank A. Oski, Former Director of Pediatrics,Johns Hopkins University

Learn more!The Dark Side of Dairyreport – all about the Britishdairy industry, how it worksand what life is like for dairycows and other animals usedfor milk.

White Lies report – a comprehensive andfully referenced scientificreport about the impactof milk consumption onhuman health.

Why You Don’t NeedDairy guide – a colourful guideexploring how dairy is linked to cancers,acne, diabetes, heart disease and, ironically,osteoporosis. It also explains the cost of milkto the cow and her calves and talks aboutnutrition on a dairy-free diet.

Everyone’s Going Dairy-Freeguide – discover the delights ofdairy-free cuisine with ournew step-by-step guide. It includes 20 mouth-

watering, dairy-freerecipes as well as helpfulshopping and cooking tips.

Boning Up on Calciumfact sheet – how calciumfrom cow’s milk can harmus and why plant calcium is best.

Calcium-Rich Foods A4 laminated poster

Get all the above at: www.vivashop.org.ukOR order via the tear-off slip overleaf!

And for dairy-free recipes go to:www.veganrecipeclub.org.uk

8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QHT: 0117 944 1000 E: info@viva.org.uk W: www.viva.org.uk

Drinking milk after weaning is unnatural for anymammal – and that of another species is simplybizarre. Would you drink your cat’s milk? Would yoube happy for puppies to be killed so you can havetheir mum’s milk? No? Then why do it to cows?

An animal’s milk is perfect for their baby. Cow’smilk is perfect for calves, human milk is perfect forhuman babies and they are very different. It’s onereason why many people find cow’s milk hard todigest and have digestion problems, eczema,rashes, asthma and allergies. Hormones in milk arelinked to ovarian, breast and prostate cancer. Cow’s

milk proteins can play a role in type 1 diabetes.

Despite relentless claims by the dairy industry, milkis neither the only nor the best source of calciumand has little effect on bone strength. Broccoli,kale, watercress, nuts, seeds, soya and other plantfoods are better and healthier sources.

Ditching dairy products has never been easier assupermarkets and health food shops now stock awide selection of delicious and nutritious dairy-free alternatives to milk, yogurt, ice cream,margarine and cheese!

The Dark Side of DairyA Viva! Report Updated by: Veronika Powell, MSc Zoology and Animal Behaviour Editor: Juliet Gellatley, BSc Zoology, DipCNM Nutrition

£5

1£2.50

By Juliet Gellatley The impact of dairy on our health and animal welfare; and easy sources of calcium

goingeveryone’s

Dairy-free!

£2

Thehandy

guide fordairy-free

living,includingdelicious

recipes andshopping

tips

Wean yourselfoff it

What is Calcium and Why Do We Need It?Calcium is a soft grey metallic element. It is the fifth mostabundant element in the earth’s crust and occurs in compoundssuch as limestone, chalk and marble. Calcium is required fornormal growth and development in animals. It is the mostabundant mineral in the human body accounting for around two

per cent of the total body weight. Calcium plays an importantstructural role in maintaining bone health and strength; in factaround 99 per cent of our calcium is deposited in the bones andteeth. The other one per cent is responsible for a range ofimportant metabolic functions that regulate muscle contraction,heartbeat, blood clotting and functioning of the nervous system.

How Much Calcium Do We Need?There is no international consensus on what the healthiest orsafest amount of calcium we need is. In the UK, the referencenutrient intake value (RNI) is used; this is similar to theRecommended Daily Amount (RDA) used previously. The RNIvalue for a nutrient is the amount of that nutrient that is sufficientfor 97.5 per cent of the people in a given group. The UKgovernment currently suggests that the RNI value for calcium inadults aged between 19 and 50 years of age is 700mg per day(National Diet and Nutrition Survey, 2004).

In the US, the recommended daily intake is slightly higher at1000mg per day (NIH Consensus Statement, 1994). However, inmany countries such as India, China, Japan, Gambia and Peru theaverage daily intake of calcium can be as low as 300mg.

Where Do We Get It?The body obtains calcium in two ways: either from our diet or ourbones. When the diet does not provide sufficient levels, calcium is‘borrowed’ (reabsorbed) from the bones in order to restore bloodlevels and maintain calcium-dependent biological functions.Calcium in our bones is reabsorbed and replaced continuously asold bone cells break down and new ones form. If adequatecalcium is then supplied in the diet, bone levels are restored, but ifthe diet fails to supply enough calcium or causes calcium leachingfrom the bones, bone loss persists.

Calcium and Bone HealthThe idea that cows’ milk is the best source of calcium is deeplyentrenched in the British psyche and is sustained by thegovernment-sponsored dairy industry and the Milk DevelopmentCouncil who work with schools, dairies and LEAs to encouragemore children to drink milk at school. However, a review of 37studies on dairy products and bone health published in the officialjournal of the American Academy of Pediatrics challenged thismisleading notion by concluding that there is no solid evidencethat the consumption of dairy products improves bone health inchildren and young adults (Lanou et al., 2005).

Another review of 15 studies on calcium intake and the risk of hip

fractures (Bischoff-Ferrari et al., 2007) suggests that neither totalcalcium intake nor calcium supplementation is significantlyassociated with decreased hip fracture risk in women or men. As forcalcium supplementation, the authors suggested that it might indeedincrease the risk. The latest study of this type brought very similarresults (Warensjö et al., 2011). Over 60,000 women were followedfor up to 19 years and when the data were analysed, it was foundthat calcium intake above 750mg didn’t offer any protection fromfractures and high calcium intakes increased the risk of hip fractures.

Harvard experts (Harvard School of Public Health, 2012) recentlyconfirmed this when they highlighted that in countries such as India,Japan and Peru where average daily calcium intake is as low as 300milligrams per day, the incidence of bone fractures is lower than inmany western countries (including the UK). An increasing amount ofevidence now suggests that cows’ milk is not the best source ofcalcium at all and goes further to suggest that our bone health wouldbenefit enormously if we switched to plant-based sources.

In addition, research suggests that physical exercise is the most criticalfactor for maintaining healthy bones, followed by improving the dietand lifestyle; this means eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables,cutting down on caffeine and avoiding alcohol and smoking.

In 2004 the Government’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) lookedat sources of calcium in the National Diet and Nutrition Surveyand found that only 43 per cent of the mean intake of calcium inadults in the UK comes from milk and milk products. So despitethe misconceived notion that milk is the best (or only) source ofcalcium the facts show that a large share of the calcium in ourdiets is derived from sources other than dairy foods. This is notsurprising as most people in the world (around 70 per cent) obtaintheir calcium from plant-based sources rather than dairy products.

But Milk is a Natural Food… Isn’t It?Humans are mammals, and as with all mammals, we are designedto drink the milk of our mothers until we are weaned on to solidfoods. We are the only mammals that continue to drink milk afterweaning, and not just that, we are the only mammals to drink themilk of another species (apart from pets that we control). To statethe obvious (but often overlooked fact) cows’ milk has evolved tohelp turn a small calf into a cow in less than a year. That’s whycows’ milk contains around four times as much calcium as humanmilk; 118mg per 100g compared to 34mg per 100g respectively(FSA, 2002). This discrepancy is for a good reason; calves need ahuge amount of calcium to promote the massive level of skeletalgrowth required over the first year of life. A human infant doesnot require such high levels of calcium; indeed the high mineralcontent of cows’ milk puts a strain on the human infant kidneywhich is why most governments recommend children do not drinkcows’ milk in their first year.

Lactose IntoleranceMany people are unable to consume cows’ milk and milk products

Most people in developed countries have been brought up to believe that our teeth and our bones can onlygrow healthily if we drink cows’ milk. Over the last three decades we have witnessed a barrage of marketingcampaigns designed to reinforce the idea that only dairy milk can supply calcium in sufficient quantities tohelp us grow big and strong. But is it really good for you? An increasing amount of research challenges theoutdated notion that cows’ milk is best and in fact shows that our consumption of dairy products is doing usmuch more harm than good.

Boning up on CalciumWhy Plant Calcium is Best

By Dr Justine Butler & Veronika Powell MScViva! Health Senior Health Campaigners

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Viva! Health, 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH. Tel: 0117 944 1000. Email: info@viva.org.uk Web: www.viva.org.uk/health FS9

Calcium-rich foods

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Artichokes Baked beans (haricot) Blackberries Blackstrap molasses

Blackcurrants Bok choy Brazil nuts Bread (wholemeal)

Broccoli Chickpeas Cinnamon Edamame (soya beans)

Fennel Kale Kidney beans Olives

OrangesSesame seeds

(and other seeds ) Soya milk (fortified) Spring greens

Tofu Swede Walnuts Watercress

Almonds Amaranth grain Asparagus Apricots (dried)

A Viva!Health Report By: Dr Justine Butler, Senior Health Researcher & Writer, Viva!Health Edited by: Juliet Gellatley BSc DipDM, Founder & Director, Viva!Health £5.50

Dark side of dairy leaflet 2015_Dairy leaflet 18/06/2015 10:15 Page 1

Male calvesMale calves are of little use on a dairy farm asthey don’t produce milk. And because theydon’t put on muscle in the same way as beefbreeds, most beef farmers don’t want themeither. Male calves are simply unwanted by-products of dairy production. At least100,000 are killed on farms shortly after birth.Thousands more are exported live to Europe forveal production and the rest remain in the UK to bekilled within a few months for cheap veal or beef.

…at all costsReproduction is at the heart of the dairy industry as cows must give birth in order to produce milk. It ismanipulated through invasive methods such as artificial insemination, embryo transfers and fertility drugs.

To produce the extreme amounts of milk demanded, whilstalso growing a baby inside, a high-yielding cow simplycannot consume sufficient food – despite special feeds – tosustain her bodily functions, leaving her in a constant stateof ‘metabolic hunger’. It is normal for cows to ‘milk off theirbacks’ in early lactation which leads to a ‘coat rack’appearance with hip bones and spines protruding.

Many cows develop diseases linked to dietary deficiencies,failing body functions and stressful living

conditions. Not surprisingly, lameness due tofoot problems, infections or leg damage

is commonplace – but as long as thecow can walk to the milking

parlour she will be milked for allshe’s worth.

Perhaps not surprisingly, every year, one in two dairy cows suffers from apainful udder infection called mastitis. And it’s not improving! As TheFarm Animal Welfare Council warned: “…the prevalence of subclinicalmastitis is greater now than in 1997.” Routine treatment is the injectionof antibiotics straight into the teat.

Predictably, this gruelling cycle takes its toll on the cow’s body:

“…a depressing number are culled after only two tothree lactations because they are worn out, either

through complete loss of body tissue (emaciation), orbreakdown of the udder tissues, or chronic lameness.”

Professor Webster

Keep it flowing…A dairy cow spends seven months of every year both pregnant and producing largequantities of milk at the same time. This enormous physical demand means she hasto eat more food than is normal for a cow – four times as much.

To increase their food intake, cows are fed silage and high-protein concentrateswhich result in wet, runny manure. Most spend the six winter months inovercrowded sheds or, on ‘zero-grazing’farms, the entire year. The appallingconditions contribute to lameness andudder infections.

A cow naturally produces about sixlitres of milk a day for her calf but onmodern dairy farms it’s between 20and 50 litres. It’s all aboutprofitability. A calf would feed severaltimes a day, preventing the udderfrom becoming full and swollen buton most farms cows are milked onlytwice a day. This means 20 litres ofmilk or more accumulate in udders sobig cows can’t even walk properly.

It starts with a birthCows are mammals who, like us, produce milk intheir mammary glands to feed their young. Theymust give birth to a calf in order to produce milk andare re-impregnated every year to keep that milksupply going. Cows are pregnant for nine months –most forcibly impregnated as early in life as possibleso they quickly pay their way.

IsolationAll calves are taken away from their mothers between 12 and 48hours after birth. Females are put into individual stalls or hutcheswhere they’re fed an artificial milk replacer. Of course they call fortheir mothers but there’s no reply, no contact, no warmth, justisolation for up to eight weeks. Many don’t survive their first month.

And what lies ahead is equally barbaric – painful disbudding (hornbud removal) and often long journeys to cattle markets.

The cow will be re-impregnated two to three months after her calf istaken from her and she will be forced to endure this emotionalsuffering again and again, every year until she is worn out and killed.

Until exhaustionFor all of her hard work and suffering, the dairy cow is sent to

the slaughterhouse as soon as her milkyield drops or she becomes too ill –usually at just five or six years old in theUK (their natural lifespan is 20 years).They face a gruelling journey to marketwhere they are sold to fattening(finishing) farms before beingslaughtered. They end up in ‘lowquality’ beef products such as pies,burgers, soups and baby food.

The perfect cocktail?So what’s in yourbottle of milk? It’scertainly not amiracle food. Dueto frequent udderinfections there’sa bit of pus (upto 400 millioncells that formpus in everylitre) as well asantibioticresidues, naturalhormones (thatare there tohelp a calf togrow fast) anda hard to digest protein that used to be used as a glue.

How about organic?Cows on organic farms are still impregnated every year to providea continuous supply of milk and also endure the trauma of havingtheir calves taken away hours after birth. They carry the sameburden of pregnancy and lactation for seven months of every yearand can fare ever worse in terms of mastitis than cows onconventional farms because they can’t be treated with antibiotics.Male calves don’t fare any better either. They are still unwantedand are shot shortly after birth or raised for ‘rose’ veal.

Make it stop!

DITCH DAIRY

A cow only has a few precious moments with her

calf. Calves are taken away within hours from birth

Just a few hours old, calves areplaced in individual stalls or hutchesand are kept there for up to 8 weeks

The dairy industry is all about profit – cows arebred to produce enormous amounts of milk whilecalves are isolated and fed a cheap replacement

A common treatment for mastitisis an injection of antibioticsstraight into the teat canal

Many dairies now have rotary

milking parlours where cows

get milked 2-3 times a day At dairy farms, male calves arealways unwanted byproducts

With most of their energy spent on milkproduction and growing a calf inside,dairy cows can’t maintain their body massand have a typically bony appearance

Male calves are often shot shortly afterbirth. Here, by a farm supplying Cadbury

Dark side of dairy leaflet 2015_Dairy leaflet 18/06/2015 10:16 Page 2