| Milking the Sacred Cow | |
| Type: | compilation |
| Artist: | Dead Kennedys |
| Cover: | Dead Kennedys - Milking the Sacred Cow cover.jpg |
| Released: | October 9, 2007 |
| Genre: | Hardcore punk |
| Length: | 39:07 |
| Label: | Cherry Red, Manifesto |
| Producer: | East Bay Ray, Geza X, Jello Biafra, Thom Wilson |
| Prev Title: | Live at the Deaf Club |
| Prev Year: | 2004 |
| Next Title: | Original Singles Collection |
| Next Year: | 2014 |
Milking the Sacred Cow is a compilation album by San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys. Released in 2007, it comprises songs recorded between 1979 and 1985 that originally appeared on the band’s various studio albums and singles. The compilation also contains two previously unreleased live versions of songs from the band’s Frankenchrist album. Notably, Milking the Sacred Cow contains no material from the Dead Kennedys’ final studio album, Bedtime for Democracy.
Milking the Sacred Cow was compiled and released several years after a lengthy lawsuit, which resulted in the rights to the Dead Kennedys' catalog being transferred from lead singer/songwriter Jello Biafra's record label, Alternative Tentacles to the other three members of the band.
The album’s title alludes to these band members profiting (the “milking”) from early Dead Kennedys material (the “sacred cow”) by rereleasing them on a compilation. The album has been criticized by former lead singer Jello Biafra.