* Cows live for about 25 years and produce milk for about nine years. The stress of the factory farm leads to disease, lameness and reproductive problems and most cows die or are sent to the slaughterhouse in four years.
    * In the farm, the cows are hooked by their udders to electronic machines and cows are subject to constant electric shocks. This leads to mastitis.
    * They spend their entire lives standing on concrete floors and living conditions are abysmal.
    * Cows are genetically manipulated given antibiotics and hormones so that their milk yield increases.
    * To see that cows produce milk, they are impregnated. Female calves are either slaughtered or added to the diary herd. The male calves are killed for veal, which is considered to be a meat delicacy.

We need not be slavishly dependent on milk:

There are so many vegan alternatives to dairy products and they are available in all health food stores and supermarkets. There are milk substitutes like Soy, almond and rice milk that are equally tasty and nutritious. There are frozen desserts like Soy Delicious, Tofutti, Rice Dream and fruit sorbets.

References and links:

   1. Plant Foods and Dairy Products, Am J Clin Nutr 61, suppl 6 (Jun 1995): 1407 S--1415S.
   2. M. Nestle, Food Lobbies, the Food Pyramid, and U.S. Nutrition Policy, Int J Health Serv 23, no. 3 (1993): 483-96.
   3. W. C. Willett, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, in the Boston Globe, June 8, 1999.
   4. notmilk.com
   5. juiceguy.com
   6. snyderhealth.com