Ryan Gosling stands up for cows against milk producers

He's not milking his fame, but Ryan Gosling is lending his name to the cause of cows.

The 32-year-old actor sent a letter this week to the National Milk Producers Federation urging the group to advocate against the industry practice of removing calves' horns. He asks that they help stop what he calls a "barbaric practice'' by requiring farmers to breed naturally hornless cattle.

The letter was released Wednesday by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Gosling has worked with the group before in its campaign urging KFC to adopt more humane methods of slaughtering chickens.

A spokesman from the National Milk Producers Federation said Wednesday that cow horns are dangerous and de-horning reduces injuries to both the cows themselves and people.