Farm Sanctuary

Today's the first day of spring and we're already dreaming of warm sunny days on the pasture. 💚

Why do cows produce milk? Well, they’re moms! Despite the popular belief that cows produce milk because they’re cows, they actually make milk because they’re moms. Cows must be pregnant or nursing their young to produce milk — just like humans and other mammals. In the dairy industry, calves are taken away from their mothers shortly after birth so humans can drink their milk instead — which breaks our hearts because cows are wonderful mothers and form strong bonds with their babies. Fierce motherly love is even a trait widely shared among cow moms. With more options than ever before, please remember mama cows and their babies when choosing what goes on your plate. 🥹🫶🏻

Can you believe people see this yet still choose to eat these sweet babies for dinner? 😔 Cows, especially young calves, love to run and jump, but their environment directly impacts their behavior. In animal agriculture, most cows are confined to crowded factory farms and feedlots—but in the freedom of Farm Sanctuary, they can run and play all they want! They're someone—not something.

In the dairy industry, male calves are often considered a "waste product" because they can't produce milk, which means they offer no long-term profit. They're taken away moments after birth from their mothers so humans can drink their milk instead and then eventually sold to slaughter for cheap beef or veal so the farmer can still earn a profit. It doesn't have to be this way. When you choose plant-based options, you're cutting the demand for dairy and positively impacting baby cows and their mamas. 💚

"Maggie, aka the Princess of Main Goat Barn, is a sweet but assertive lady, extroverted but also introverted, and 100% a momma's girl. She has been by her mom, Olive's, side since day one, and they are now the leading ladies of their goat group. She is a leader but seems more comfortable in her princess status than fully ruling the goat group. Maggie and Olive are inseparable and do everything together, so much so that when Olive gets treats, grain, or attention, Maggie demands some as well and will (politely) hoof you on the shoulder to get the attention she deserves." 💚 –Belle M.; caregiver, wellness.

When Ash arrived at Farm Sanctuary, he was so scared and traumatized that he clung to his mom, Connie, for support. Rescued from neglect, they had no food, water, or shelter and were fighting to survive in subzero temperatures. They finally felt love for the first time when they stepped onto our sanctuary grounds. Ash has come such a long way since we met him. Now, he loves humans and will even try to climb into their laps for some pets! He’s no longer fearful, and we admire his brave soul. 💚

Factory farming isn't just cruel for the animals—it's also a public health. Did you know that around 75% of human pathogens, including COVID-10, SARS, swine flu, and bird flu, are zoonotic? Even with this knowledge, the government continues to support an industry that wreaks havoc on public health. If we want to keep animals and people healthy, the USDA must end its support of industrial animal agriculture and promote a sustainable, humane, plant-based food system. Until then? We'll continue to face the same public health issues. If this administration really cares about reducing waste and improving efficiency, not changing our ways is unacceptable. Read more about this in Farm Sanctuary's President and Co-founder Gene Baur's op-ed here: https://bit.ly/424hb9O

George was born at a petting zoo, a place many associate with fun family outings and delightful interactions with baby animals. But the unfortunate reality is that petting zoos are not all fun and games for farm animals like George! Typically, these animals don't receive the same level of enjoyment in return; within weeks or months, they're often separated from their families and either slaughtered for food or bred to produce more babies to repeat the cycle. Most farm animals are valued for what humans believe they can give us, like food, clothing, or the enjoyment of a momentary meeting at a petting zoo. But for the rest of his life, George will be valued and loved for the unique individual he is. 💚

Rufus missed his besties while he was sick, and our hearts melted when they were reunited after two months! 💕 In 2022, we rescued Rufus and his three goat gal pals. We placed them with a member of our FAAN (Farm Animal Adoption Network) until health challenges and changing circumstances required a new home, which ultimately ended in separation. Our friends at Odd Man Inn Animal Refuge (OMI) suspected the herd had treatment-resistant parasites, complicating the situation because the goats shouldn’t be on pasture. When OMI saw Rufus, they knew he was desperately sick and needed immediate medical attention. Once Rufus recovered and returned home to OMI, it became clear that he missed his lady friends and that life would be better with them by his side, so we arranged cross-country transports for the four friends to our Los Angeles sanctuary! Goats are social animals, playful, curious, and emotionally complex. Like us, they have pals they prefer to spend time with, so Rufus reuniting with his friends was vital to his well-being. Without your support, we couldn’t have brought these BFF’s together again. 💚

Gary was taken away from his mother when he was just hours old. He never received her love and affection and never even had the chance to nurse. Sadly, this is commonplace in the dairy industry. We take in countless male calves like Gary, who are deemed “worthless” by an industry whose sole purpose is to produce milk and dairy products like cheese for human consumption. Because males can’t produce milk, they hold no value in the dairy industry, where animals are viewed as products for profit rather than individuals with personalities and feelings. While we can’t replace his mother’s love, we’re grateful he has a safe, loving home with us. Here, Gary has pastures to explore, and he’s even found friendships with other cows rescued from the dairy industry, like Milton. For individuals like Gary, choose plant-based. 💚