Uitgemolken

Where do cows go that no longer produce milk? What happens if a newborn calf on a dairy farm turns out to be a bull? Usually, these animals would go straight to a slaughterhouse, to satisfy our endless need for consumption. However, the cows in the retirement home at the Leemweg Foundation have escaped this fate. They are allowed to get old and live a happy, calm life. Some cows have escaped the slaughterhouse, some were so dearly loved by their farmers that they decided to bring them there. Every cow has a unique story and personality.

I strive for a world in which animals will be treated with respect and are allowed to live a happy and long life free from mistreatment and oppression. In this digital photo exhibition, Uitgemolken, I document the lives of the cows who have retired at the Leemweg Foundation to further this aim.