Cows being kicked and hit with poles, or sworn at and whipped with chains. These videos of animal abuse were released last week by the Independent newspaper.¹

They were taken at a farm producing milk for Marks & Spencer, the high street retailer, and the German dairy brand Muller. The farm was also endorsedA public statement or action showing that you support somebody/something. by the RSPCA, the charity devoted to protecting animals.

In response, the RSPCA suspended sales from the farm while investigating the footage. Along with Muller, all three organisations have released statements saying this behaviour falls far short of their standards.

The videos were taken back in 2022. Joey Carbstrong, the activist who planted the cameras, believes such behaviour is inevitable, given that "the dairy industry views sentientAble to perceive or feel things. animals as machines to be exploited until exhaustion".²

Many people have a moral objection to killing animals for meat, yet still consume dairy products. But, as Abigail Penny, a spokeswoman for Animal Equality argues, "there is no ethical way to consume dairy milk".³

Of course, becoming vegan also causes problems. Animal products are much more nutritionally dense than many of their vegetable equivalents. Most vegans have a greater risk of anaemia or low bone density.⁴

Vegan diets also come with ethical concerns. The staples of vegan eating - vegetables and grains - can be intensively farmed using chemical fertiliser or pesticides. Fruit, nuts, and exotic products like avocados are often imported, resulting in larger carbon footprints.

But for many vegans, the possible cost to our health or the environment matters much less than the suffering of animals. Besides, cows can be intelligent, form life-long friendships, and grieve when they lose loved-ones. They can even communicate, moving their heads to convey "a variety of physical messages".⁵

This is the argument of Rosamund Young, who wrote the best-selling book, The Secret Life of Cows. Young is a cattle farmer, whose animals feed on grass and live outdoors for much of the year.

Even though Young loves and respects her cows, they are also farmed for meat. Which shows that animals can still be treated well, even if they will be eaten one day.

Should we all go vegan?

Yes: If you want to stop the suffering of animals, it is not enough to stop eating meat. Dairy farms also cause harm to cows, as these videos make painfully clear.

No: Animal products, some say, are much richer in nutrients than their plant equivalents. And a plant-based diet can have environmental costs that vegans will often overlook.

Or... It is possible to treat animals well even if they are being farmed for milk or food. In fact, this may be vital to rebuilding biodiversity.