Dairy cows provide the world's most consumed animal product, but the welfare implications of modern dairy production extend far beyond what most consumers consider when buying milk or cheese.
Dairy cow welfare involves chronic health burdens that are substantially normalized in the industry. Mastitis causes significant pain yet affects a quarter or more of cows at any time. Lameness causes chronic suffering and is often undertreated because affected cows continue producing milk. The annual cycle of pregnancy, birth, and calf separation causes acute distress - cows and calves vocalize for days after separation. Metabolic diseases from the extreme energy demands of modern milk yields (ketosis, displaced abomasum, milk fever) cause significant suffering in the peripartum period. Consumers of dairy products are largely unaware of these welfare burdens, which better labeling and education could help address.