Dairy Alternative Crops and Animal Welfare

The shift toward plant-based dairy alternatives reduces demand for conventional dairy production, with implications for billions of farmed animals.

Key Facts

Plant-based milk alternatives now account for 15% of total milk sales in the US
Oat, almond, soy, and coconut milk all have dramatically lower animal welfare impact than dairy
Some plant-based alternatives have environmental tradeoffs including water use and land conversion
Animal-free dairy using precision fermentation is emerging as a new category
Consumer demand for dairy alternatives has grown 50% in five years in many markets

Welfare Considerations

The welfare benefits of dairy alternative adoption are substantial: each liter of dairy milk replaced by a plant-based alternative eliminates the welfare costs of dairy cow production — maternal separation, reproductive cycling, lameness, mastitis, and premature slaughter. At scale, the shift toward dairy alternatives represents one of the largest welfare improvements achievable through consumer choice. Supporting the development and accessibility of affordable, nutritious dairy alternatives is both a welfare and a public health contribution.

What You Can Do

Try dairy alternatives and find those that work for your preferences and recipes
Support dairy alternative products by choosing them when available
Advocate for dairy alternatives in school lunch programs and institutional food service
Donate to organizations developing affordable, nutritious dairy alternatives
Share information about dairy welfare alongside dairy alternative options