Not only do dairy cattle pollute rivers and streams, and require an
inordinate amount of land and water to feed them, but here is some
information you should know.  The following very relevant short list
"What's Wrong with Dairy Products" was taken from the No-Milk web page:

http://envirolink.org/arrs/essays/dairy_bad.html


What's Wrong with Dairy Products?

Most Americans, including many vegetarians, still consume large amounts
of dairy products. Here are ten reasons why it is a good
idea to eliminate dairy products from one's menu.

One: Fat and Cholesterol

Dairy products contribute cholesterol and fat to one's diet. Cheese and
ice cream are loaded with fat and cholesterol.1 Studies
comparing the cardiovascular status of ovo-lacto-vegetarians and vegans
have proven that while both are healthier than meat-eaters,
vegans have better cardiovascular status than vegetarians who consume
dairy products.2,3 Skim dairy products are considerably
lower in fat; however, they retain the problems noted below.

Two: Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency is more likely on a dairy-rich diet. Cows' milk products
are very low in iron,1 thus, if they become a major part of
one's diet, iron deficiency is more likely. In addition, clinical
studies have shown that infants consuming cows' milk lose small
amounts of blood from their digestive tracts.

Three: Diabetes

Insulin-dependent diabetes (Type I or childhood-onset) is linked to
dairy products. Epidemiological studies of various countries
show a strong correlation between the use of dairy products and the
incidence of insulin- dependent diabetes.4 This is only an
association, but researchers have long suspected that an autoimmune
reaction is the cause of this disease. Some speculate that dairy
protein may spark the reaction.

Four: Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is linked to dairy products. The milk sugar lactose is
broken down in the body into another sugar, galactose. In turn,
galactose is broken down further by enzymes. According to a study by Dr.
Daniel Cramer and his colleagues at Harvard,5 when
dairy product consumption exceeds the enzymes' capacity to break down
galactose, there is a build-up of galactose in the blood,
which may affect a woman's ovaries. Some women have particularly low
levels of these enzymes, and when they consume dairy
products on a regular basis, their risk of ovarian cancer can be triple
that of other women. The problem is the milk sugar, not the
milk fat, thus non-fat dairy products cannot solve this problem. In
fact, yoghurt and cottage cheese seem to be of most concern
because the bacteria used in their manufacture increase the production
of galactose from lactose.

Five: Cataracts

Cataracts are also linked to dairy products.6 The galactose that is a
breakdown product of lactose also appears to damage the lens of
the eye, leading to cataracts. There are other factors which also
contribute to cataracts, such as ultraviolet light.

Six: Lactose Intolerance

Many people, particularly Asians and Africans, are unable to digest the
milk sugar, lactose. Diarrhea and gas can result. On the other
hand, they may be the lucky ones. Many Caucasians can tolerate lactose,
only to be unable to rapidly breakdown the galactose
which circulates in their blood, possibly contributing to cataracts and
ovarian cancer, as noted above. Lactose intolerance may be
nature's early warning system.

Seven: Food Allergies

Milk is one of the most common food allergies. Respiratory problems,
canker sores, skin conditions, and other subtle and
not-so-subtle allergies can be caused by dairy products. The sad thing
is that many people never know that they have a dairy
sensitivity; they think that their problems are "normal." If they give
themselves a break from dairy products, they might get a very
pleasant surprise. Asthmatics, in particular, should give themselves a
long vacation from dairy products to see whether their
condition improves.

Eight: Toxins

Like other products from animals, breast secretions contain frequent
contaminants, from pesticides to drugs. About a third of all
milk products are contaminated with antibiotic traces. The dairy
industry slogan "something for every body" takes on a different
meaning doesn't it?

Nine: Osteoporosis

Dairy products, despite common myths, do not stop osteoporosis. Evidence
shows that the rate of bone loss is largely unaffected by
dairy products.7 Numerous studies have shown that the countries with the
highest intake of dairy products also have the highest
incidence of osteoporosis, and that consuming large amounts of diary
products simply will not maintain bone density.

Ten: Colic

One out of every five babies suffers from colic. Pediatricians learned
long ago that cows' milk was often the reason. We now know
that breast- feeding mothers can have colicky babies if the mothers are
consuming cow's milk. The cows' antibodies can pass
through the mother's blood stream into her breast milk and to the baby.