Usually in front of the camera for filming for TV shows and movies, actress and activist Richa Moorjani recently stood in front of Animal Equality’s camera to help shed light on the global dairy industry. With never-before-seen footage captured by Animal Equality’s undercover investigators in India, Richa is harnessing the power of investigations to share a special message about Who behind every glass of milk and dairy products.
Investigation results
Between 2021 and 2022, Animal Equality investigators visited 27 farms, six markets and two slaughterhouses linked to India’s dairy industry. These campuses span the Indian states of Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana and West Bengal. The images captured are some of the most shocking evidence of the cruelty experienced by cows and buffaloes used for milk.
I ask you not to overlook the cruel or disturbing reality behind every glass of milk or dairy product.
Richa Moorjani, Actress
As shown in the investigative video:
- Calves are separated from their mothers immediately after birth. Male calves are either sold for slaughter or left to die because they are not profitable for the dairy industry. Female calves repeat the same cycle of pregnancy and forced delivery as their mothers because – like humans – they can only produce milk by giving birth.
- After being separated from her calves, the mother cow struggles to produce milk. Instead of allowing calves to drink breast milk, farm workers resort to extreme methods to increase production. In many cases, the carcasses of dead calves are stuffed with hay and placed next to the cows to convince them that they need to continue nursing.
- Farm workers inject animals with Oxytocin, an illegal hormone that stimulates milk production. The substance has been banned due to its harmful effects on animals and humans consuming dairy products that contain it.
- When the females are no longer able to produce milk, they are killed for meat.
- At the markets for slaughtering calves, cows and buffaloes, workers beat weak animals when forcing them onto transport vehicles.
- Workers painfully handle the animals’ genitals, inserting sticks and fingers to cause pain and force them to move. Children working in these markets were found to imitate this behavior.
As a producer of more than 20% of the world’s milk production, a glimpse inside India’s dairy farms and markets reveals a more complete picture of the industry causing significant suffering for buffaloes and cows globally. And, as the US is one of the leading importers of dairy products from IndiaThe cruelty discovered during this investigation brings these issues close.
Evidence of suffering inside the global dairy industry
In addition to recent footage in India, Animal Equality has recorded disturbing evidence of animal abuse on dairy farms around the world.
The findings from these investigations are more than heartbreaking. The grave and indescribable ways in which these innocent and silent creatures are treated solely for human food should not be tolerated anywhere in this world.
Richa Moorjani, Actress
In U.S.A, Animal Equality investigators have discovered that a dairy farm in Nebraska supplies Babybel neglected his animals and subjected them to harsh conditions. Calves were found frozen to death when the temperature dropped below freezing. Investigators have captured images of calves whose hoofs have separated from their legs. In addition, workers were filmed calving and performing painful procedures, such as castration, without anesthesia.
In the United Kingdom, Animal Equality records cows subjected to violent physical abuse, including getting punched and kicked in the face. Investigators also found a pregnant cow that was left unattended after her baby died in the womb. The images have sparked widespread outrage after millions were watched as the footage aired on the BBC’s hit TV show ‘Panorama’ early last year. According to The Grocer, the footage led shoppers to abandon dairy products.
In Mexico, Dairy cows recognized for Animal Equality are screaming in pain because they have to undergo painful procedures, such as horns and tails, without anesthesia. The team also observed that the sick, injured and dying animals did not receive proper veterinary care.
You can send a powerful message to the dairy industry
Like me, you have the ultimate power to choose what you consume. Even if going vegan is completely impractical for you right now, every plant-based meal you make or buy has a lasting effect. Each individual action has an impact and when taken as a whole, we can send a powerful message to the mining industries and cause pain for the sake of profit.
Richa Moorjani, Actress
Helping cows and other animals that are abused on dairy farms is as simple as choosing alternatives to milk, such as replacing milk with nuts or oats. By joining the plant-based charity movement, you can make a positive impact with every meal—on animals, the environment and your health. Get started today by trying a delicious and cruelty-free new recipe, and inspire others to join you on your journey towards a brighter future for all.
PROTECT THE MOTHER’S LOVE
A cow’s maternal instinct fosters a tender relationship with its vulnerable young. Maintain this tender relationship by choosing plant-based alternatives to dairy products.
If you want to support investigations like this, there’s no better time than now to contribute to the work of Animal Equality. During the month of June, your donation will be doubled thanks to a generous anonymous donor. Your $20 donation turns into $40—$40 turns into $80—etc
And if you sign up to be a monthly donor for Animal Equality in June, your donation will compound monthly for a year!
This opportunity to double impact animals, like cows and buffaloes, only lasts until June 30 or until the $500,000 global goal of Animal Equality is reached. Thank you for your support in whatever way you choose to display it!
Help double the number of animals
Your gift to Animal Equality is building a better future for all animal. Donate before June 30th and before we hit our $500,000 global goal and your donation will match.
