This undercover investigation by PEA at the slaughterhouse of Moudon in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, reveals how baby cows are being killed in front of each other. According to PEA, this killing facility supplies companies such as HappyMeat, who claim it is an "ethical solution" for meat consumers.

Why are they killing babies?

Slaughtering baby cows sounds too cruel to most people, they are only babies after all. However, killing baby calves is an essential part of dairy production, one that all dairy farms participate in.

This is because female cows, like all mammals, can only make milk after giving birth (in order to nurse their babies). Just like humans or dogs, mother cows eventually stop making milk and will only start to lactate again if they give birth once more.

Male calves are useless to dairy farms

Dairy farms, including small and family farms, have to routinely get the cows pregnant so the milk continues to flow. To prevent the babies from nursing, they take the babies from their mothers shortly after birth. This is done so the babies don't drink the milk that the farms are interested in selling.

Half of the babies who are born on dairy farms are males. Sadly, the male calves are killed at very young ages since they won't be able to produce milk and since letting them live more than a few months is not profitable.

What can be done to help these baby cows?