As someone that grew up on a dairy ranch/farm, barbaric isn't something that springs to mind.
I'm all for reducing the unnecessary cruelty in the industry. I get the impression it is believed that regulation can't really help anymore?
My general impression is that there is currently a quiet revolution happening in at least part of the industry because Temple Grandin wrote up a list of general standards for slaughter houses, like "cows should not be falling down," without specifying how to achieve those standards and then McDonald's adopted her standards. Since McDonald's is a major purchaser of beef, this is apparently having widespread impact, from what I gather.
It's only one piece of the puzzle, but it provides a potential model for progress based on something other than regulation.
Glad to hear things are at least projected to improve. If you have recommended links for where to track progress, I'd be game. I worry that many rules in basically invisible sectors need regulation for basic adherence. Self adherence typically sounds suspiciously naive. That said, I think trying to shine that light is more promising than just widening the net for where corruption could be with equally naive regulations. That is, I do prefer this over jumping straight to regulations.
In the context of the recent rise of awareness for animal rights, environmental problems of dairy production and last but not least the discussion about health effects of Milk, I am not sure if the last sentence holds true :-)
"But one argument that seems to have been finally set to rest is that milk and butter are no longer just for barbarians."