Green Daily

In an effort to maximize efficiency, dairies have turned to extreme measures that may not be so good for us and the environment. Breeding and feeding practices in the dairy industry have changed dramatically over the past half century, leading to questions and disturbing answers regarding how the health of cows and humans are being affected.

The use of artificial growth hormones have been the biggest issue. Various sources suggest or rBGH (sometimes referred to as rBST) increases per-cow milk yield by 10-15 percent. Reading the articles about it are like watching a volleyball game. There's one from Science News. Then the New York Times. Then Snopes. Lobbyists are hard at work to get information out that confuses the public. Here's Sustainable Table's breakdown, which suggests "the only winners in this system are the dairy corporations that are willing to go to great lengths to cut costs and increase profit, regardless of the consequences for consumers, animals and the environment."

The Eat Well Guide lists dairies that produce sustainable milk, cheese, butter and other dairy products. And at conventional grocery stores, look for the USDA certified organic label and other indications that milk and other dairy products are free from antibiotics, hormones and pesticides.

Skip ahead

• What does organic really mean?
• Is your favorite restaurant green certified?
• The benefits of grass fed beef