What Exactly is “Herd Retirement” ??
Does anyone realize what else cows go through?
Herd retirement sounds so wonderful, doesn’t it? Unfortunately it’s yet another aspect of the dairy industry that few people know about.
The first go around already happened in May. Now CWT has announced a second herd retirement of 2009.
First, CWT stands for Cooperatives Working Together.
Second, they are dairy farmers who have paid into and belong to this cooperative.
Third, the herd retirement concept is not what it seems.
To explain further….
Because, for the farmer, the price of milk is so low and the cost of fuel, electricity, cattle feed and so much more is high, the financial pressure on these farmers is tremendous. The first herd retirement that began in May of this year ended in thousands of healthy cows going to slaughter and the farmers that “retire” their cows are monetarily compensated and agree to not milk cows for five years.
In this second herd retirement not only are the milking cows being slaughtered, but young bred heifers will be going for $700 per heifer. Producers who agree to this plan are paid in two installments, 90 percent of the amount bid times the producers 12 months of milk production and then when all is verified that the cows have been killed, the remaining 10 percent plus interest will be paid at the end of 12 months after an audit.
This is all to help drive up milk prices for the farmer.
During the “down” time of not producing milk, many of these farmers will grow the feed that goes to the farmers still milking. It would seem to me that this could be a perfect moment for these farmers to take stock and begin growing quality food for human consumption! Jim and I have recently observed this scenario. One dairy farmer in Uxbridge took the buyout. The other farmer located closer to us did not. Now the farmer who sent his cows to slaughter is now planting and harvesting for the local farmer and perhaps others.
It was on the July 23rd news that beef prices have dropped…a lot. No one seems to question why. But looking at the “retired” bovine numbers that had no choice but to be slaughtered their next stop was to the butcher.
In the end of June, 367 herds in 41 states, comprised of 101,000 cows that produced 1.96 million pounds of milk were “retired”. Also removed were 818 bred heifers. But despite the slaughter of these cows another retirement round is scheduled for August. Our hearts go out to these farmers struggling financially but we would hope that they take their buyout money and begin growing vegetables for human consumption. Compassion for both sentient being and our fragile environment.
By Cheri Ezell-Vandersluis
Co-founder of Maple Farm Sanctuary
101 North Avenue
Mendon, MA 01756
Please make donations to your local Sanctuary! Maple farm Sanctuary link: http://maplefarmsanctuary.org/donations.htm