Dairy Farming in the 21st Century: Global Ethics, Environment and Politics

How do we achieve food security for a global population now in excess of 7 billion people and trending towards 10 billion by 2050? This study of the global dairy industry examines how we can balance our needs with those of animals and the environment. Are the multi-thousand mega-dairies of the USA, which are increasingly evident elsewhere, more climate friendly than traditional farms? Is it ethical to keep cows confined in this way - which involves the use of confined animal feeding operation (CAFOs), high stocking density, unnatural high-energy/low fibre diets of totally mixed rations (TMR), hormones for estrus stimulation, GMO hormone for milk yield, leading to stress, depleted immune systems and drastically shortened lives of the cows. What are the implications for rural communities?
This book offers an in-depth and detailed discussion of the central and ancillary issues relevant to dairy farming and consumption in the 21st century, presenting the arguments of all sides involved. No book to date offers such a comprehensive overview, linking ethics, environment, health and policy-making with in-depth coverage of the major dairy farming regions of the world.