I just spent about an hour reading over the links and found out a lot I didn’t know. Now I will be thinking happy thoughts about Isabelle when I feel grumpy about how much organic milk costs.

I’d love to see more articles like this one.

This article made me want to someday have a cow on our farm, allowed to live and mother naturally. In the mean time, it made me want to try to patronize farms that treat their cows like this. But they are so few and far between...=/

Excellent article! Thanks!

Great article, though it made me nostalgic for my childhood; we raised pastured cattle on a small farm in Oregon. I still find it hard to believe that anyone thinks the commercial practices are a good idea. I’m not romantic about raising animals, but don’t they have any qualms about the suffering they inflict?

Love this article. This is the sort of news we need to start hearing more of.

It’s a great reminder of how the basics of farming are SO VERY important to our food supply. It’s not about Big Factory Farming; it’s about the little things. Little Things that end up being the Most Important Things.

wonderful!! being raised on a farm, i didn’t know that there was another way to do things than what i’d seen. it seems so crazy to separate and feed lesser things, doesn’t it? ugh. great, great article.,

Thank you for this inspiring article. One of my life goals is to someday have a pasture with a few lovely cows. My husband strives to gently remove this silly notion from my head but I will cling to it stubbornly for all of my days.

Loved this! Wish I had land so I could have a cow. I know it’s a romantic notion for a NYC kid, but I can dream...

What a fabulous article. The image of those cows trying to keep the one-day-old calf from being taken, and then their subsequent bawling -- gosh.

Thank you for this lovely, contemplative piece. I already buy grass-fed beef and pastured chickens and eggs when they are available (and when I can). More food for thought.

I dearly appreciate your kind comments. Every effort each of us makes to raise our own food sustainably is a positive step, whether it’s sprouting alfalfa seeds on your counter or changing zoning regulations so you can raise chickens and goats in your backyard.

Those of you who are interested in in owning a cow some day may be interested in the book Keeping a Family Cow by Joann S. Grohman or participating in the Keeping a Family Cow forum http://familycow.proboards.com/index.cgi

I grew up in Wisconsin in an area thick with dairy farms. My dad is a large animal veterinarian, and I got to visit dozens of the farms going with him. But I never saw anything like your farm. Sigh.

Note Grace C, that “organic milk” probably doesn’t come from as idyllic a scenario as this. Several of the big organic milk producers use the same type of concentrated feeding operations as non-organic. “Organic” just means they were fed organically-grown grain, and not pumped up with hormones etc.

Very inspiring. Although a meat eater, factory farming roils my stomach. This loving article written about a humanely cared for animal has moved me.

I really enjoyed reading this, although it made me sad to think of the unrelenting stupidity when it comes to the treatment of animals. Thank you.

I need to coment on your article. The modern dairy cow is evolved into a milk making machine a average cow like the one in your picture whould give about 9 or 10 gallons of milk daily enough milk for ten calves and if the cow is not milked empty daily her udder whould get a fever and the could get sick and die and her one calf (twins are rare) whould over indulge if a person did not watch carefully. Just my insight from years of experience.

Wonderful article about how animals should be raised and treated. It’s hard to believe how poorly animals are treated in the farming and food industry. Thank you for this well written reminder on the importance of the source of our food.

I’ve been vegetarian for a long time because of farming practices like the ones described here, but I’d have a very hard time giving up cheese. Any suggestions about how I can find out more about farming practices behind specific brands and types of cheese? I’ve no intention of eating Kraft cheese slices or anything like that, but what about the more interesting cheeses in my local supermarket? I’ve been eating a lot of locally-produced goat cheese from the farmers’ market, but I do like a bit of variety now and again.

Thanks a lot to anyone who can point me in the right direction!

I so enjoy reading these comments. I dearly hope more of us start to see it’s possible to own a family cow or collectively share ownership of a cow not far from our homes. It’s only within the last 100 years or so that most families became disconnected from the sources of their food.

To anon of Feb 6th. I have to disagree on several points.
The modern dairy cow didn’t naturally “evolve” into a milk making machine. Breeds have been tinkered with to produce as much as possible for the lowest costs.
*The cow pictured is a Guernsey. This breed doesn’t produce 9 to 10 gallons a day, nor would that many gallons be sufficient for 10 calves.
*Our cow, as stated in the article, produces enough milk daily for two calves and our family of six.
*Our experience and the long experience of other people owning family cows shows that calves do NOT overindulge. I can’t imagine the circumstances under which that might happen unless extreme duress. Oh wait, perhaps standard farming practices of separating cow and calf qualifies.
*Guernseys are extremely hardy and gentle, perfect for those considering a family cow http://www.worldguernseys.org/advantages.html

Nicecupoftea, I couldn’t give up cheese either!

I don’t know if you can determine exactly how animals are treated unless visiting the farms, but short of that there are steps you can take. Artisan cheeses (like some you find at the farmer’s market) tend to be made using ingredients with higher standards tracing back to the farm.

You might also consider raw milk cheese. I know there’s a great deal of controversy. I am on the raw milk side for a variety of reasons http://www.realmilk.com/ one of which is that raw cheese makers tend to have strong ethics about their products and sourcing. Here’s an interesting piece on the topic http://www.caberfeidh.com/RawCheese.htm

As more of us care about how our food is raised, the better it will be for our land and animals. thanks nicecupoftea.

Thanks Laura, I’ll check out those links. I don’t have much hope of finding raw milk cheese where I live, but one day I would love to have a cow of my own - always thought they were beautiful animals.

Dear Laura,

Since we both share the same names “Laura Grace” your articles keep popping up on Google along with mine. It’s a real joy to read your writing. I came across this article and was deeply moved. I grew up in Michigan and love farm animals. Now I live in California and am vegetarian. My love for animals continues to grow as does my sensitivity to how they are being treated. Thank you for writing such a heartfelt article.

Namaste,
Laura Grace

I’ve run across your writing too, Laura Grace, and find such lovely synchronicity between our interests. We have more than our names in common. Glad to find a kindred spirit online.

I’ve been searching the web for an article like this. I needed to verify my own thoughts about raising cows and their calves sensibly. A million thanks!

If you are eventually going to cut its throat and eat it, it does’nt matter how lovingly an animal was treated. in fact it sounds more diabolical - like unncessary drama of love before the blood bath. hypocrisy has to stop.