UNFORTUNATELY, mankind seems to have lost its humanity and its empathy, particularly towards our fellow creatures, the animals – one of the most significant co-inhabitants of our beloved Earth. We, as humans, seem to think only of ourselves and not of God’s other creatures. We are so used to seeing ourselves as part of something greater than ourselves, that we forget how valuable and precious all life really is.

I pen this missive after noting a feature that was broadcasted on LRTVS Newswatch on Tuesday, 20th October, 2020, titled, ‘GLDA ups artificial insemination capacity,’ in which it was noted that they are now in a position to meet farmers’ demands for artificial insemination (AI) services on cattle, swine, and small ruminants. Artificial insemination, as defined by Wikipedia, is the “deliberate injection of sperm, in ways other than sexual intercourse, into the female reproductive organ for the purpose of fertilisation. It is a medical fertility treatment for humans and is a popular practice in animal-breeding, particularly in dairy cattle and pigs.”

W. Ombelet and J. Van Robays, in an article, “Artificial insemination history: hurdles and milestones,” clarified that,  “the chain of events leading to today’s general use of artificial insemination in animals date back to studies a few centuries ago. The idea was taken from a cattle study by farmers wishing to develop the dairy industry by using artificial insemination with the sperm of special bulls with carefully selected genetic traits.” However, over the decades, because of its unethical, moral, and religious issues to say the least, this method has been strongly criticised and restricted in some countries. Another key reason behind this criticism is that this practice does not provide any real benefits to the animals. This is the point of my essay, dear readers, as I am of the view that artificial insemination is one of the most controversial methods in animal welfare.

The aim of artificial insemination is breeding and so farmers take advantage of the female reproductive organ to keep up a constant inflow of new victims whom they are able to turn into “commodities” for sale. What they fail to recognise is that animals, much like humans, have emotions too. When a human is sexually assaulted forcefully and involuntarily, we call it “rape.” It also applies to animals in these farms that are sexually exploited involuntarily and forcefully. Female cows are continuously raped; their body parts are abused by artificial insemination. Farmers usually impregnate cows every year with the use of an uncomfortable instrument in order to compel them to supply as much milk as possible. To impregnate these cows, someone jams his or her arm a long way through the cow’s rectum in an attempt to locate and align the uterus, after which they drive the instrument into her vagina. The cow is defenceless to avoid this assault. Female animals also undergo botched births, after which their babies are taken away soon after birth.

Cows produce milk for the same reason as human beings: to feed their young. In an article from PETA, the writer correctly states, “We may also label cows that make milk “mothers,” but they do not really get to be moms because their babies are taken from them after birth. Unfortunately, they are not regarded with the honour that mothers deserve. Once their calves have been taken away, mother cows are fitted up to milking machines. Artificial insemination, among other procedures, is used to pressure them to supply extra milk.” Physically, morally, and mentally, this exercise has a negative impact on these cows.

Calves that were taken away from their mothers shortly after birth cause extreme pain to both mother and child. Mother cows can be heard crying for their calves for days.  Male calves are doomed to end up in crowded cages or desolate feedlots where they could be fattened for veal and beef, and females are condemned to the same unhappy destiny as their mothers.

The unfortunate truth is that mankind appears to think that they have the right to interfere with nature. I think that artificial insemination is going too far. We see forced breeding or rape in which humans determine which bull to breed the cow, rather than encouraging her to choose her mate. Animals, much like humans, have feelings too. Animals, like humans, do copulate, and they have breeding seasons. They rub, touch, and smell as part of their romance. However, all these farmers do is take a device, shove it into the reproductive part of the animals and press sperm into it. This is no satisfaction at all for the animal. Like a woman who has been raped forcibly, the animal looks forward to nothing. She may even dislike the baby after she gets pregnant and gives birth.

Animals are known to be consumed by humans. Some religions have proven deeply that this is all appropriate, although some prove otherwise. The fact remains, however, that we have shifted from what is considered to be the mind of the Creator Lord God of the Worlds, as it relates to natural reproduction, to creating food and to enriching farmers and nations through artificial insemination, or, as I say, ‘rape,’ without any care or concern for the animals themselves.

This begs one question as to whether our food commodities are the product of rape. Eating these animals and their meats can have a devastating domino effect. This may be one of the causes of all the mental imbalances, illnesses, and trauma that have become epidemics in the world today. There is a growing dilemma in children’s and even adults’ emotional and mental well-being. The consumption of such meat may be one of the factors contributing to this.

All in all, it is my desire that through their acts, people can make a difference in caring for our animals. I beseech us all to stop exploiting these animals just for profit-making. As I said above, animals have feelings too.

Sincerely,
Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.