Are California Cows Happy Cows?

Molly Schleif

2/14/12

We’ve all seen the commercials.  “Happy cows come from California.”  As a Wisconsinite, I’ve always hated the inferences that California can make better dairy products because their cows are happier.  The images of harsh Wisconsin winters versus the warm, sunny climate of California especially hit close to home.  We are the dairy state after all!  Who are they to challenge that?  Perhaps some of you have felt the same way.  Growing up across the street from a dairy farm, I know things aren’t the way Real California Milk portrays them to be.  Sure, we can have some cold winters, but does that make our cows unhappy and our dairy products not as delicious?  I was so offended by this insult to my home state that after the first time I saw one of their commercials, I decided to boycott all Real California Milk Products.  Hopefully none of you Wisconsinites have ever purchased any Real California Milk Products, but for more reasons than just to be faithful to Wisconsin.   

I’m sure you are all aware of the water conservation issues much of the United States is experiencing, even if we don’t feel as many of the effects ourselves.  Especially in the southwestern states, there are lakes, rivers, and wetlands being drained in order to supply cities with the water supplies they require.  We are fortunate enough to have the Great Lakes in Wisconsin, so we have ample water supplies and rainfall.  This is in stark contrast to California.  The Real California Milk commercials depict California’s climate as warm and sunny.  This is true, but what the commercials don’t show is that the climate is actually more hot and arid.  This is not an ideal climate for agriculture.  So much water is needed just to grow the crops that will feed the cows, and then there is also the drinking water that the cows require.  In California, dams and water diversions are constantly being created, and most of it is being used for agriculture.  Here in Wisconsin, most farms don’t even need to water their crops because they get enough rain as it is.  So what is the real price of Real California Milk?  It may be cheap in the stores, but when you factor in the cost of the damage to the environment through the draining of lakes and the building of dams, it may not seem so cheap after all. 

There is another reason Real California Milk is more costly than it seems.  One of the best ways to help the environment is to conserve resources and become sustainable.  This is best done by buying local.  When Wisconsinites purchase Real California Milk products, we are promoting the unnecessary transport of dairy—which we have plenty of—across the country.  It is simply a waste of energy and resources. 

I hope you don’t buy Real California Milk products, or that if you do, you won’t anymore.  Not only is it disloyal to Wisconsin, but it is bad for the environment.  Besides, our dairy is so much better.