An uncomfortable truth about dairy is that calves are taken from their mothers minutes or hours after birth. Conventional thinking is that speedy separation is better for both cows and calves. It also results in higher milk yields for farmers.
In the Netherlands, a new milk brand is being launched to ensure calves can stay with their moms for months instead of hours. Kalverliefde — literally 'calf love' and figuratively 'puppy love' — works with farmers who let cows and their offspring stay together, allowing the calves to suckle from their mother instead of from artificial udders. Out of over 15,000 dairy farmers in the Netherlands, an estimated 45 currently keep calves with cows.
Kalverliefde, which is organic as well as ethical, will be available next week at selected Albert Heijn stores (the Netherlands's largest supermarket chain), just in time for World Animal Day on October 4th. Retail price is expected to be around EUR 2 per liter, compared to EUR 1.45 for store-brand organic cow's milk or EUR 2.09 for a carton of non-organic Oatly.
