WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
COK Video Pours out Painful Truth about Dairy
Update: COK video prompts animal cruelty charges; worker pleads guilty to three counts
Midstate man pleads guilty to animal cruelty charges
In a heartbreaking new undercover video, Compassion Over Killing reveals violent abuse of gentle mother cows at Mason Dixon Farms, a massive dairy factory farm in Pennsylvania with more than 2,500 animals.
Mason Dixon supplies some of the biggest names in dairy, including Dairy Farmers of America and Land O’Lakes.
One of the largest dairy facilities on the East Coast, Mason Dixon was the first in the US to implement milking of cows by machines, known as “robo-milking.” Approximately half of the 2,500 cows on this factory farm are now “robo-milked.”
Though Mason Dixon touts itself as a leading example in the dairy industry, the footage taken by COK’s investigator who worked inside the facility uncovers a different reality that includes:
- egregious cruelty to animals: including cows being kicked in the face, punched in their sensitive udders, excessively shocked with an electric prod, jabbed with pens or elbows, and having their tails twisted or bent by workers
- cows living in hazardous conditions, routinely getting stuck on water troughs or inside stalls
- worker safety concerns: workers handling formaldehyde throughout the facility with no protective clothing or masks.
COK submitted evidence of animal cruelty to local authorities, calling for prompt enforcement action. According to Dairy Farmers of America, which Mason Dixon supplies, Mason Dixon has fired one employee in response to the acts of animal cruelty documented in this footage.
Demand more dairy-free: Sign & share our petition!
Thirst for Profit Creates a Cruel Cycle
Dairy cows are genetically manipulated to produce huge quantities of milk, and bovine growth hormones unnaturally boost milk production even more, adding to their pain and discomfort.
Cows at Mason Dixon produce up to 25 gallons of milk a day — that’s more than twice the amount of milk on other dairy factory farms. Hooked up to milking machines several times a day, these cows often suffer painful inflammation of the udders, known as mastitis.
To keep producing milk, dairy cows are continually artificially inseminated in an invasive manual procedure. Just like human mothers, cows carry their babies for nine months.
“Like human mothers, cows form incredibly strong bonds with their babies, but in the dairy industry, these bonds are shattered. As a mom, I shudder when I think of the calves systematically torn from their mothers time and again so the milk intended for these baby animals can be sold for human consumption.” – Cheryl Leahy, General Counsel, Compassion Over Killing
You can help end this cycle of cruelty: Click here for ways you can take action today!
Millions of Americans are telling milk to mooo-ve over, choosing healthier and compassionate plant-based milks and other dairy-free foods.
The best way we can protect cows, and all animals, is simply to leave milk and meat out of our shopping carts: Visit TryVeg.com to get started!
May 12, 2017 Update: Since the release of our investigation, Leprino Foods and Chobani have stated that Mason Dixon is not in their supply chain, though it’s our understanding that both companies do purchase from DFA and this factory farm is a member of DFA. We have reached out to confirm how this supply chain is verified and are awaiting responses. In the meantime, we’ve updated our video and website to reflect this new information, and we will continue to update as additional detail is received.