Like humans and other mammals, cows, goats, and sheep need to be pregnant or give birth in order to produce milk. They share an immediate bond with their babies – yet, in the dairy industry, these emotionally complex animals are forcibly separated. Females are continuously impregnated and each of their calves is taken away soon after birth so that their milk can be packaged and sold to humans.

Baby cows born into the industry suffer one of two fates: females are most likely used for dairy, like their mothers, while males – who cannot produce milk – are sold for beef or veal.

At Farm Sanctuary, we see each of these animals for who they are: Someone’s mother. Someone’s baby. Someone, not something.

Below, meet a few of the resilient and inspiring individuals we have rescued from dairy production.

Pietro could not be sold like most male calves born on dairy farms. He was too sick and weak, and he had a broken leg, preventing him from even standing up. Thankfully, a kind rescuer spoke up for Pietro. After learning of this injured calf through Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, we brought him to a veterinarian for his needed care. He soon recovered from fever, diarrhea, and sepsis resulting from an infection. 

In just days, he was jumping for joy, and soon, he came to our Watkins Glen, New York sanctuary — his forever home.

Gentle Pietro is now a happy, curious, and playful steer known for his snuggles.

For most of us, cows probably come to mind when we think of dairy, but goats are also used in milk production. Kids born on dairy farms are sold for meat or raised for dairy like their mothers.

Josie-Mae would have suffered one of those fates, but a trauma cut off circulation to both her front legs. Sadly, her wounds were not treated in time, and she lost her right leg. Because their “owner” could not afford treatment, Josie-Mae and her mother Willow were both surrendered into our care.

With a prosthetic leg, Josie-Mae happily gets around her forever home, and we’re so happy that mom and daughter get to spend their lives together in peace and love.

Born small and sick on a dairy farm, Diane would have been killed soon after birth — but a kind visitor to the farm offered to take this helpless calf instead. 

Her rescuer brought Diane to a neighbor’s dairy farm so that she could be among other cattle, but sadly, Diane was forced into milk production and kept inside. Like other dairy cows, her tail was painfully docked. When she could no longer produce milk, she once again faced death.

Diane’s original rescuer found out and asked us for help. Diane needed rescuing twice but never will again. Farm Sanctuary will always be her home.

We hope that every rescued animal will go on to live a long life in our care. Sadly, animal agriculture’s toll can be devastating, and for some, we can only make them comfortable in the time they have left.

Despite struggling to stand or walk, the 10-year-old goat had long been bred and used for milk. When Shirley could no longer produce milk, the farmers sent her to us rather than slaughter her.

At Farm Sanctuary, Shirley joined a small flock of goats and sheep, spending much of her time with her best friend, Sadie goat. Sadly, she spent less than two months with us, as her pain and discomfort became more than we could alleviate, but we’re glad that she formed a special friendship with Sadie and experienced love and care in her final weeks.

It’s hard to believe that in the photo above, there’s a living calf amid the filth – but that’s where we found Stanton (bottom right). Sick and weak, he clung to life, nestled against one of the calves who had already drowned in muck.

This was the second time Stanton had experienced heartlessness, already having been sold at auction as an unprofitable male calf born into the dairy industry. But once he was all clean, we saw that Stanton had a white heart on his head, perfect for this sweet and affectionate steer.

At Farm Sanctuary, Stanton quickly found an adoptive family, as Jackie and Nancy cows kindly took in this calf who never got to know his mother.

Dairy production relies on a continuous cycle of suffering. The animals used by this industry are not numbers or products; they are mothers and babies. 

By learning and sharing their stories, we can help to change how all farm animals are viewed and treated.

Share this blog to raise awareness for cows, goats, and sheep used for dairy.