Beef cows vs dairy cows

_Elsa_

“On the left side is a beef cattle and on the right is a dairy cow,” says Farmer Joe. “Now let me give you a brief description about both of them.” 

‘Each species has its own particular needs when it comes to high standards of animal welfare:

Beef cattle - Beef cattle should not be confined on feedlots or other types of confinement feeding operations, instead being given access to open pasture. Beef cattle should be fed a natural diet consisting of grasses and pasture-based forage for life, with the exception of milk consumed by calves prior to weaning. Calves should be reared with their mothers, as well as other cows and calves and should not be isolated. Weaning should be determined by the health condition of the cow and her calf, with preference given to longer weaning times. All animals should be provided continuous outdoor access to properly managed pastures and not undergo tail docking, dehorning, and branding. Beef cattle should receive antibiotics only for treatment of disease or illness, as prescribed by a veterinarian. 

‘Dairy cows - Dairy cows should be provided continuous outdoor access to properly managed pastures, and the majority of their diet should be comprised of naturally growing roughage and forage to ensure proper functioning of their rumen (the first of a cow’s four digestive compartments). Milking schedules should be set to ensure cow and calf comfort, with preference given for longer weaning times. Dairy cows should receive antibiotics only for treatment of disease or illness, as prescribed by a veterinarian.‘ (Source)

“Cattle farming today is different than what it was in the past,” says Farmer Joe. 

‘Cattle farming today - The calves of dairy and beef cows are likely to have very different lives. Beef cattle are generally slaughtered after one to two years in Europe, but they can be up to five years old in the case of extensively reared animals. Female dairy calves are usually reared on for milk production. Dairy cows produce some male calves which are generally less suitable for beef production. Sadly, in the UK some of these are either shot at birth or could be exported to low welfare veal farms outside the UK. Fortunately, the number of calves being exported from England, Scotland and Wales is low currently, but several thousand animals are exported to the continent each year from Northern Ireland.

Due to co-operation between Compassion in World Farming, the RSPCA and the industry through the Calf Stakeholder Forum, more male dairy calves are now reared humanely for beef and the number of calves being shot at birth has greatly decreased. There is more work to do - around 95, 000 dairy calves are still shot every year. 

Beef cattle are often reared outdoors on grass, although many are brought indoors or crowded into feedlots for fattening before slaughter. Even though many cattle in the UK, Ireland and Northern France are fattened on grass, many cattle are kept indoors and fattened on a high grain diet across most of Europe. In indoor systems, beef cattle are commonly housed on slatted floors in crowded conditions, which increases aggression and can lead to severe injuries and lameness.‘ (Source) 

Let’s continue - Farmer Joe is sad as he tells the girls about fish farming 

Start at the beginning – Tiffi and Elsa take a trip to Dairy District