
"Dairy cows make their misery expensive (but their calves can’t)" by Elizabeth
From LessWrong (Curated & Popular) by LessWrong
May 5, 2026 · 13 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the suffering of dairy cows in milk production and the implications of their choices compared to other animals.
How much do cows suffer in the production of milk? I can’t answer that; understanding animal experience is hard. But I can at least provide some facts about the conditions dairy cows live in, which might be useful to you in making your own assessment. My biggest conclusion is that cows made better choices than chickens by making their misery financially costly to farmers. Life Cycle The life of a dairy cow starts as a calf. She is typically separated from her mother a few hou...
People in this episode
Guest: Elizabeth
Topics covered
- animal welfare
- dairy industry
- milk production
- animal experience
- ethical choices
Keywords
- dairy cows
- animal suffering
- milk production
- ethical considerations
- animal welfare
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