Dearn Editor: Here is my op-ed response to the recent article by Emily Meredith. Thank you for the opportunity.I was disappointed to see a recent article by Emily Meredith from the Animal Agriculture Alliance in Progressive Dairyman.

As a spin doctor, Ms. Meredith is more than happy to take your money, but her ultimate goal is to hoodwink consumers, not improve animal welfare. In the long run, that will further erode consumer trust in the dairy industry.

Mercy For Animals has conducted five undercover investigations at dairy farms across the country. Every single one of these investigations has led to criminal charges and convictions against owners, managers, and workers who were caught on video viciously kicking, beating, and even sexually abusing animals.

Unfortunately, the response from the dairy industry has not been to increase oversight or improve conditions, but to deflect criticism and point the finger of blame at everyone but themselves. One common rallying cry has been to say investigators should report abuse. Of course, they do. That’s why arrests are made. We may not go public with the video right away, but that’s because we give law enforcement time to do their jobs.

Another tactic is to pit the dairy industry against its own customers, saying the “urban” public just doesn’t understand. Not only is it counterproductive to call your customers stupid, but it doesn’t take an Ag degree to know that stabbing cows with pitchforks is wrong.

So, what is the solution? Well, it starts by realizing your customers are under no obligation to continue buying your product. They have a choice. And many are choosing to spend their money on nondairy alternatives. Indeed, milk consumption has been dropping steadily over the last 30 years, while the sales of soy milk and other plant-based alternatives have been soaring. But if you aren’t willing to change career paths to follow market demand, if you truly care about animal welfare, you can lead the charge for change.

Progressive dairymen should install live-stream cameras in their facilities, not only for the sake of transparency, but to deter animal abuse. Animals should be given pasture to graze instead of barren dirt or concrete lots. Workers should be trained in the humane handling of nonambulatory animals using appropriate slings or sleds rather than resorting to dragging and beating them. Of course, nonslip flooring should be installed in all facilities to prevent injuries.

Progressive dairymen should also be advocating at the state and federal level for stronger laws to protect farmed animals and to do away with unnecessary and cruel practices like tail docking or dehorning without painkillers. And the dairy industry should be out front in condemning acts of malicious animal abuse and calling for prosecution of animal abusers.

In short, Emily Meredith is giving bad advice. Dairy farmers have a choice. You can dig in your heels and point fingers at everyone else, and look really bad in the process. Or you can be on the right side of animal welfare issues and be seen as the driving force for progress. The choice is yours.

Sincerely,

Matt Rice
Director of Investigations
(347) 839-6464
www.MercyForAnimals.org