The dairy industry produced 20 per cent less milk in 2016 than in 2006.

Something big in our culture is changing as many people are switching to milk that doesn’t involve cows.

You can find milk made from soya, hazelnut, almond, cashew and coconut among other things.

They can be found in most supermarkets and are not that much more expensive. Soy milk has a very similar nutritional profile to dairy whilst rice and hemp milk is ok if you are allergic to nuts.

Some people are looking for alternatives to milk because they have no choice as they are lactose intolerant, but that’s not really why I am writing this.

The main thing is that the dairy industry needs cows to have calves so that the cows produce milk – like any other mammal.

How they do that and what happens to the calves persuade some to have nothing to do with it.

There are other reasons, but whatever yours might be it is getting easier than ever to pour something else on your cornflakes.

In case you’re worried about calcium deficiency, it is important for healthy bones and teeth but also the nervous system.

You can get calcium from kale, black-eyed peas and tofu, to name a few sources.

Drinking milk doesn’t appear to give you much protection against osteoporosis. People in countries where they don’t drink milk at all tend to have stronger bones than we do.

It is rather strange than we are the only animal to drink the milk from another. We are also the only mammal to keep drinking milk into adulthood.

The number of people who aren’t drinking milk is rising.