India produced 239 million tonnes of milk in 2023-24
It has 300 million dairy cows and buffaloes - the largest herd on the planet
It contributes 25% of global milk supply
The market is projected to nearly double in size by 2032
By any economic measure, this is a success story. It supports 80 million farmers, anchors rural livelihoods, and feeds a population of 1.4 billion.
Actual Numbers
As Discussed above, India has 300 million dairy cows and buffaloes. Most of them live in small family farms. But their condition is not right.
Study Published in 2020 observed 38 Dairy farms in Kerala and found something different.
100% of cows were tied through a hole pierced in their nose
On 50% of farms, animals were tied indoors for the entire day
Only 22% of farms gave animals free access to water at all times
Food access was restricted to an average of 4.3 hours per day
Access to clean water is one of freedoms for Animal welfare, Most basic. But majority of the farms have failed it.
Talking about regulation - The 2014 National Dairy Code of Practice was introduced with minimum welfare standards. Eleven years later, enforcement is still near zero.
What a Dairy Cow's Life Actually Looks Like
Cow only produced milk after giving birth. that is the simple biology.
To get milk, farmers artificially inseminate her roughly once a year.
80% of the cattle in India are bred in this way.
usually this procedure is done by untrained workers using unsterile equipments, leads to infection.
When a calf is born, within one of two days, the calf is taken away.
To keep producing milk after the calf is gone - Many farmers inject oxytocine.
Edit: The match seems to now be over - the funds were expended in around 35 minutes. But many of these charities are great and should be supported regardless!
***
On October 22nd starting at 10:00am Pacific Time, Every.org is matching donations to select animal welfare organizations at a 2:1 rate, up to $2,000 per donor per nonprofit (so if you give up to $2,000, they will contribute up to $4,000 and the nonprofit will get up to $6,000). The first donation a donor makes to each el...
Crossposted to Less Wrong
‘Like most of life’s dangers, the dangers of artificial intelligence are not easily identified from the armchair.’
J Dmitri Gallow
Epistemic status
I’m not an expert in this field, and herein I make some sweeping generalisations educated guesses about the overall...
