Organic cows bad, antibiotics good (but also bad), and animal welfare activists in a twist
1-min read
With success comes haters. Alexandre Family Farms was profiled in The Atlantic this week and it wasn’t pretty.
The piece follows whistleblowers that went to activist media Farm Forward with their allegations of disturbing and egregious animal treatment by the Alexandres and their employees. Farm Forward’s investigation is a hit piece and specious, The Atlantic admits, and you can read the interviews and commentary (behind the paywall). In response, the Alexandres have made this statement.
It’s important we understand this reporting, because The Atlantic wasn’t just glomming on to a hit piece, they were making a statement that farms with animals are bad because, look, even the best of the best is blowing it.
I’ve written about the Alexandres several times on this substack, know brands that source from them, and have interviewed Blake Alexandre on this podcast. The Alexandres are a family operation, have been farming for >30+ years, and are the first and largest Regenerative Organic Certified dairy in the country. They’ve advocated for others, trailblazed pasture raised, Certified Humane cows, and scaled their own dairy to build relationships and supply premium brands like Once Upon a Farm, Alec’s Ice Cream, Serenity Kids and others (who have visited their farms, not just relied on certifications).
The mistreatment – which I don’t believe are accurate – aside, The Atlantic piece describes industry best practices – like feed “pellets” and “isolated” calves – to say animals are suffering. The author concedes that antibiotics should be administered to heal sick animals, but doesn’t like them because it’s not organic, and anyway farmers armed with antibiotics can’t be trusted (!!!). The general overlay of disdain is followed with the conclusion that we don’t value farm animals in this country and their welfare is at risk every day.
The Atlantic took the opportunity to run a story against “large” scale farming (the Alexandres have ~4500 head) by making an example (however false) of a preeminent operation saying even the best are doing it wrong.
I say, poorly done. Let me know what you think in the comments.
All my best,
Jennifer