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engin__r t1_iy94fgy wrote

Like people, cows only lactate when they have babies. The cows are artificially inseminated, typically by locking them in a cage and jabbing them in the cervix with a metal rod while the farmer’s arm is inserted into the cow’s rectum.

When the cow gives birth, the farmer takes away her calf to prevent it from drinking the milk.

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nihil8r t1_iy94uuw wrote

What are the calves fef if they are meant to grow to adulthood size for meat?

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jakhtar t1_iy98nvm wrote

They're fed formula, or they're slaughtered and sold as veal.

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engin__r t1_iy95ian wrote

Formula and/or food pellets.

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nihil8r t1_iy967zy wrote

Hmm, wouldn't have thought formula would be cheaper than the milk :(

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ThenaCykez t1_iy9aefi wrote

You can grow soybeans for a nutrient-rich milk and the soybeans turn the sunlight into food a lot more efficiently than the cows turn plants into food.

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soylamulatta t1_iy9tnwb wrote

That's correct. And that's why animal agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation. Forests are being cleared to grow soy as feed for animals.

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Any-Broccoli-3911 t1_iyb0pdg wrote

They aren't grown to adulthood usually. Some are slaughtered right away to make Bob veal, some are formula fed to make white veal, some are gain fed to make red veal, some are intermediate or pink veal.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veal

The milk industry and the main beef industry are mostly kept separate and are different breeds. Though, old cow are sold as cheap beef once they are done.

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