Court Orders California Milk Advisory Board Members to Show Up in Person to Defend Its 'Happy Cow' Claims

Board Members Can No Longer Avoid Questioning in PETA's Lawsuit

For Immediate Release:
February 2, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Sacramento -- After refusing for months to appear for questioning about PETA's lawsuit alleging that the California Milk Advisory Board's (CMAB) claims of "happy cows" in California's dairy industry are false and therefore in violation of the California Marketing Act, members of the Board have officially been ordered to appear at depositions that are expected to take place throughout February and March. Thus far, the members of the CMAB have refused to answer questions about their marketing.

"If the California Milk Advisory Board members weren't afraid of the truth, they would willingly tell the public about the dairy industry's farming practices—but it speaks volumes that PETA had to seek a court order to force them to answer even basic questions," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "The fact is that California's 'happy cows' are treated miserably."

Contrary to the CMAB's advertisements, cows on California factory farms are typically kept confined on hard, abrasive concrete or manure-laden dirt. They commonly suffer from udder infections, painfully swollen knees, and hoof disorders such as foot rot, ulcers, and abscesses that can result in lameness and premature death. Newborn calves are routinely torn away from their mothers within hours of birth, causing many cows to wail for days. And recently released CMAB documents show that approximately 100,000 cows on California's dairy farms die each year before they can be sold to slaughterhouses at the age of 4.

The Superior Court's order to the California Milk Advisory Board is available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.