2. “when I realised that cows don't just produce milk
all the time for the fun of it, cows only produce milk
for their baby cows”
In order for cows to produce milk they need to
give birth to a calf. In commercial units, pregnant
cows will be separated from the milking herd
about 2 months before they are due to give birth
(classed as ‘dry cows’). The cow produces milk
immediately after, or even just before, giving
birth. The farmer may start milking the cow
straight away (but feeds the first milk (colostrum)
to the calf), or the calf may be left with the
mother to suckle for the first few days post
calving. The cow will then be milked either once,
twice or three times a day, depending on the dairy
system. The farmer will often try to get the cow
back in calf within 2 months of her giving birth,
so that she produces one calf per year. However
many farmers do not achieve this and cows often
give birth every 400 days or more.
https://www.ciwf.org.uk/media/5235185/the-
life-of-dairy-cows.pdf
The dairy cow will produce large amounts of
milk in its lifetime. Production levels peak at
around 40 to 60 days after calving. Production
declines steadily afterwards until milking is
stopped at about 10 months. The cow is "dried
off" for about sixty days before calving again.
Within a 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle, the
milking period is about 305 days or 10 months
long.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_cattle
3. “baby cows have four stomachs to digest said milk,
its not really meant for humans.”
Many people who’ve never been near a dairy farm have
heard that cows have four stomachs. It’s one of the
questions I get asked most often. The answer: Yes and
no.
Cows technically only have one stomach, but it has four
distinct compartments. It is very different than a
human stomach. That’s why people often say that cows
have four stomachs.
Parts of a cow’s stomach:
•Rumen – This is the first part of the cow’s stomach. It
helps break down complex plant products like grass.
•Reticulum – Here the food mixes with the cow’s saliva
and produces cud. Cows burp up the cud into their
mouths and chew it to help break it down more. When
you see a cow that looks like she is chomping on bubble
gum, really she is chewing her cud.
•Omasum – Here all the water is absorbed out of the
food.
•Abomasum – Here is where the food is finally
digested, similar to what happens in a human stomach.
https://www.milkmeansmore.org/do-cows-really-
have-four-stomachs/
A dairy cow has a four-part stomach system consisting of
the reticulum, rumen, omasum, and abomasum. The first
two compartments make up one large fermentation vat,
the third is an unusual looking organ that absorbs water
and minerals from digesta leaving the rumen, and the
fourth is the true stomach that functions like the stomach
of monogastrics (including pigs and people). All four of
these stomach compartments are present at birth;
however, only the abomasum is fully developed and
functional. The other compartments, most notably the
reticulum and rumen, are essentially undeveloped in the
neonate. The reticulum and rumen are sterile at birth, and
it is often several weeks before a constant bacterial
population is established that resembles the bacterial
population of an adult ruminant.
http://articles.extension.org/pages/71110/rume
n-development-in-the-dairy-calf
4. “Oreos! Amazingly, they are pretty much made up of
sugar and preservatives, unbelievably unhealthy.”
UK oreos originally contained whey powder and so
were not suitable for people who avoid milk
products. As the whey powder was sourced from
cheese made with calf rennet, UK Oreos were also
not suitable for vegetarians. However since Spring
2013, the whey powder has been removed and UK
Oreos are now suitable for vegetarians and
vegans. In 2014 Oreos also became vegan in the
US.
According to the FAQ on Oreo UK siteThey are not
vegan [16] as they have the cross contact of Milk. This
maybe just being over cautious just because of possible
cross-contaimation risk, the same as products that are
labelled as may contain milk.
http://www.veganwiki.co.uk/index.
php?title=Oreo
5. “Most ginger biscuits are also accidentally vegan.”
http://myvegansupermarket.co.uk/product/mcvitie
s-ginger-nuts-250g/
6. “but as of yet nobody has made a cheese substitute
that doesn’t taste like plastic although you can
make your own out of cashew nuts which I am yet
to try.”
Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while know
that I’m a big fan of cashew cheese. It has found its way into
countless lunchbowls, salads, pasta and grain dishes, collard
wraps, and other recipes since I started blogging, and it remains
one of my favorite ways to add flavor to dishes. When I mention
cashew cheese to clients, it often tends to evoke raised eyebrows,
or the quick disqualification of “oh, that sounds like a lot of work.”
But making cashew cheese at home is really as simple as making
hummus or bean dip or any other number of condiments. Today,
I’m sharing my go-to cashew cheese recipe, the one I return to
again and again (along with a few flavor options). I hope you’ll
come to rely on it as much as I do!
There are different approaches to making cashew cheese. Some
folks like to use a high speed blender; I find that you have to add a
lot of liquid to make the cheese blend properly, which results in
something that’s closer to cashew cheese sauce than cashew cheese
(not that there’s anything wrong with a cashew sauce).
https://www.thefullhelping.com/go-
to-cashew-cheese-recipe/
7. “Not at all, you just have to be sensible with your
money and not spend it all on ginger biscuits.”
No! Veganism is not expensive. While there are plenty
of nonvegans ready to tell you otherwise, this is
largely due to the myth that vegans are eating
processed soy versions of what everyone else eats.
In fact, vegans survive mainly on beans, rice, pasta,
fruits, and vegetables--the cheapest ingredients on
earth.
http://vegankit.com/be/
Many people will use the excuse, “I would go vegan, but it’s
just so expensive,” or “Where would I buy all those special
vegan foods?” to avoid making the switch. To them, a plant-
based vegan diet is somewhat of a luxury, only possible for
the affluent or those embodying a ‘hippy’ disposition, who
have no daily obligations other than to frolic through forests
collecting baskets of berries and whatnot.
But the reality is that a plant-based diet can be the most
convenient, accessible, and affordable dietary choice on the
planet, providing not only great nutrition, but also
accommodating life on a budget – it all depends on the
choices that YOU make.
http://www.theveganwoman.com/is-
vegan-food-more-expensive-a-guide-
to-eating-vegan-on-a-budget/
8. “Join vegan groups online, there are so many people
out there willing to answer your question.”
