Vegan is best

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The discovery of bird flu on dairy farms in several states in the US is just another reason why humans should opt for vegan milk instead of cow’s milk. No one wants to support cruelty to animals or contribute to the climate catastrophe, but consuming dairy does both.

On dairy farms, cows are artificially impregnated so that they’ll provide a steady supply of milk for humans. Newborn calves are taken from their mothers shortly after birth – most end up at the slaughterhouse bloodied, dangling by their hind legs with their throats cut. When their grieving mothers can no longer produce as much milk, they, too, are slaughtered. Before they’re killed, each adult cow can release as much as four gallons of methane a day, which accounts for about 3.7 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Cow’s milk, eggs, and other animal-based foods contain cholesterol, saturated fat, and other harmful substances. Vegan foods, on the other hand, are cholesterol-free, generally low in saturated fat, and high in fibre and other essential nutrients.

The best way to slow the spread of bird flu is to stop raising animals for food.

HEATHER MOORE