240 starving cows killed on farm, New Zealand

 

Animal welfare officers have euthanised 180 cows and calves found starving and near death on a West Coast farm.

The Ministry of Primary Industries is considering laying charges under the Animal Welfare Act over alleged neglect at a leasehold farm in the Lake Brunnerarea.

Not related. Ref. only

An investigator who inspected the farm on August 28 found several cows dead and the rest of the 940-strong herd in “various stages of starvation”.

Local veterinarians, a farm consultant and additional animal welfare officers assessed the cows.

They were found to be in such an emaciated state that they were unlikely to survive more than a few days.

An MPI veterinarian supervised the euthanisation of 150 cows and 30 calves. A further 60 cows were transported to the local freezing works.

There were concerns over the welfare of the 700 cows remaining at the farm, the MPI said.

It said alleged breaches of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 had been carried out at the farm, though no charges had yet been laid.

Federated Farmers West Coast president Katie Milne said the organisation was assisting the MPI investigation.

She implicated financial problems in the failings at the Lake Brunner farm.

“The critical message we need to get out is whatever happens financially you are a farmer first. This is not the 1960′s so be open to your family, your friends and your bank. Above all, be honest to yourself.

“Failing at a business does not mean you have failed as a farmer but failing your stock does.”

The affected farmer should have reached out to Federated Farmers for support, Ms Milne said.

“You will find we all want to help so no one needs to be an island.

“I also need to make it clear that there is no way anyone can condone the maltreatment of livestock. Aside from an obvious and significant destruction of commercial value, it is ethically unacceptable.”

News Link:- http://beforeitsnews.com/mass-animal-death/2012/09/240-starving-cows-killed-on-farm-new-zealand-2430310.html

 

Toxic algae to blame for cattle deaths in Gwinnett County, UGA determines

Athens, Ga. – University of Georgia researchers have determined that toxic algae killed four cows on a cattle farm in Gwinnett County. A recent perfect storm created the right conditions for a toxic algae bloom in ponds, they say, warning property owners to be vigilant about keeping livestock and pets out of water that has become discolored or opaque.

The toxic algae has been found in at least one other pond less than 10 miles from Atkinson Farms in Dacula, and researchers say it is very possible these are not isolated incidents.

“Pond owners should be mindful of the risks associated with toxic algae and take proper management steps to prevent or lessen the formation of an algae bloom,” said Rebecca Haynie, a toxicologist with the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. “However, there are numerous species of common algae in the Southeast that are capable of producing toxin. So just because you have a bloom doesn’t mean you have something toxic in the water.”

Haynie and other researchers have been working to clear up the algae bloom in cattle farmer Bill Atkinson’s pond, taking water and fish samples and treating the water with algicide. Algae are a naturally occurring phenomenon, Haynie said, and typically flare up and then clear on its own.

Atkinson’s pond is the worst-case scenario, resulting from a recent perfect storm of conditions. Warmer than average temperatures and drought leading to increased water clarity and an influx of nutrients from the surrounding pasture created ideal conditions for an algae bloom.

Read the rest:-http://onlineathens.com/uga/2012-06-27/toxic-algae-blame-cattle-deaths-gwinnett-county-uga-determines

Prosser man pleads guilty to running over escaped cows

A 58-year-old Prosser man admitted to inflicting unnecessary pain or suffering on his escaped cows when he hit them with a van.

Thomas David Humphrey pleaded guilty today in Benton County Superior Court to a reduced charge of second-degree animal cruelty. He had been charged with first-degree animal cruelty and reckless driving.

Prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge to the gross misdemeanor and drop the driving charge in exchange for his plea. “Oh well that makes it ok then…NOT!”

Humphrey was sentenced to five days in jail, which Judge Craig Matheson said could be served on work crew.“Why not send him on a holiday instead…seriously where’s the justice?”

He was also given a two-year deferred sentence, which means Humphrey could get the conviction removed from his record if he follows court orders during that time. Among the conditions are not committing any new crimes, paying all court fines and not owning any animals during his two years of probation.

Humphrey was arrested June 10 by Prosser police after they got a report about a disturbance in the city’s spray field on Bettinson road. Witnesses reported seeing a man chasing and hitting cows with his white van, court documents said.

He was trying to corral six of his cows that had escaped.

Officers noted the van appeared to be out of control at times as it spun around, raising dust and throwing debris from its tires, documents said.

Two city employees reported that Humphrey was hitting the cows with the front of his van, and at one point the vehicle became high centered on top of a cow, documents said.

The cow eventually tried to run away but was unable to go far because of its injured legs, witnesses told police. Two other cows were struck and did not get back up, documents said. The injured animals were euthanized, documents said.

News Link:-http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/05/10/prosser-man-pleads-guilty-to-running-over-escaped-cows

Rendered Animal Wastes In Our Food Chain – Petition

The media is all abuzz with contradictory rumors and statements after a case of mad-cow disease (or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, BSE) was found this week in California. The beef industry assures there’s nothing to worry about. Understandably, consumers are confused.

Here is the first thing to bear in mind: mad-cow disease is the tip of a nasty iceberg called feeding-livestock-’rendered’-animal–wastes. These include slaughterhouse wastes, animals that died before slaughter, supermarkets and restaurants refuse, as well as waste from animal farms including manure and poultry litter.

Now, for a bit of scary truth: unless it is certified organic, pasture-raised, or grass-fed/grass-finished, the meat and milk that you buy at the supermarket or that you consume at restaurants come from animals that were fed such “animal proteins.” Yep, including these frozen burgers and corndogs at our kids’ schools. You don’t have to believe what I say. The Union of Concerned Scientists has all the facts on this dirty trick.

At any rate, it’s definitely something to think about when considering the advantages of a vegan diet. Or when deciding to buy direct from the local grass-rancher–even if that means reducing one’s consumption to make up for the price difference.

Rendering is a multibillion-dollar industry in the U.S.. It produces over 8 million tons of products per year, including meat and bone meal, tallow, poultry byproduct meal, blood meal, and feather meal. Renderers supply biofuel producers, soap manufacturers, the oleo chemical industry… and feed mills.

Feeding rendered animal-waste products to food-producing animals is an aberration that threatens public health and violates animal welfare. Antibiotics, pathogens and any undesirable agent that was allowed to enter the food chain at some point are transmitted from one carrier to a multitude of feeders, potentially causing damage along the way and requiring more antibiotics, and journeying all the way to the top feeders: humans.

In fact, the practice was banned in the UK in 1996, after it was discovered that the epidemic of BSE could spread to humans through exposure to contaminated beef. The European Union followed suit in 2001.

In 1997, the US and Canada enacted prohibit feeding cattle any protein derived from mammalian animals… with quite a few exceptions: blood and blood products; gelatin; tallow containing no more than 0.15 percent insoluble impurities; inspected meat products which have been cooked and offered for human food and further heat processed for feed (such as plate waste and used cellulosic food casings); milk products (milk and milk proteins); and any product whose only mammalian protein consists entirely of porcine or equine protein. In other words, beef and dairy cows can still be fed poultry, horse and swine proteins (including poultry litter), as well as cattle proteins with some restrictions.

Note that the diet of all other food animals, including pigs, poultry and even herbivores, is NOT affected by this partial ban on rendered animal wastes (including from their own species).

This means that the risk of BSE contamination is still present, since non-ruminants being fed proteins from cows infected with BSE could be rendered into proteins fed to cattle. The 2008 regulation 589.2001 that prohibits the use of high-risk cattle material in feed for all animal species is nothing but a legal safeguard that has enabled the feeding of rendered animal waste to food-producing animals to continue unabated.

Our children do not need to be on the receiving end of this industrial madness. Neither do we. Even if we choose to incorporate some meat and milk in our diet.

Sign this petition to make it stop (yes, even if you’re a vegetarian) : http://www.thepetitionsite.com/510/909/279/nourish9billion/

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/rendered-animal-wastes-in-our-food-chain.html#ixzz1tGhSFTvL

Abused Animals to be Auctioned

“It breaks my heart to say this, but I can only think of one type of buyer who is profiting in this agricultural crisis, thus has the money to buy 55 horses & 20+ cows….killer buyers for slaughter houses…I sincerely pray I am wrong!!”

Sgt. James Savage says this economy is leading to record abuse cases involving neglected horses and other livestock.

Savage says they are also seeing more people neglect their pets; but that problem isn’t as visible, so it often goes unreported. He urges people to contact police if they believe someone isn’t feeding or properly caring for his pets. “Absolutely, animal abuse and animal neglect is a crime. It’s a misdemeanor and can be up to a felony depending on the severity of it, and we rely on people like that who see their neighbor not taking care of an animal. That’s how a lot of these cases get generated.”

In a record animal abuse case in Crook County; soon the County will auction off 55 horses and 20 plus cows to one buyer.

News post from:-KBND.com

The HSUS Offers Reward in Cow Killings : The Humane Society of the United States

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for slashing the throats of two dairy cows in St. Albans, Vt.

The Case: Police are still investigating the case of two Holsteins who were killed on a family farm in St. Albans on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25. The body of one of the cows was found in a pasture, and the other was found tied to the barn the next day. Both cows had their throats slashed. The owner’s name is being withheld at their request. There are no leads in the case.

Animal Cruelty: Getting the serious attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and the community in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the community. The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented.  Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.

“This senseless act of violence toward these innocent creatures is hard to comprehend,” said Joanne Bourbeau, Northeastern regional director for The HSUS. “It takes a truly vicious person to slash the throats of two gentle cows. We are hopeful that this reward will bring forward anyone with information about this heinous crime.”

The Investigators: Detective Sergeant Benjamin Couture with the St. Albans Police Department is investigating. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 802-524-2166.

Resources: The HSUS Animal Cruelty Campaign raises public awareness and educates communities about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence while providing a variety of resources to law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators and families. The HSUS offers rewards in animal cruelty cases across the country and works to strengthen laws against animal cruelty. To see information on statistics, trends, laws and animal cruelty categories, go to humanesociety.org.

via The HSUS Offers Reward in Cow Killings : The Humane Society of the United States.

Circus Dancing cows – What next, performing fish??

The Circus Royale has been touring the state, with Ipswich the final stop in Queensland before moving the show to South Australia.

Circus owner Damien Syren said the show would provide entertainment for people of all sorts.

“This is real circus, the way we remember it from our childhood,” he said. “It’s big, exciting and wonderful family entertainment. “There is something for everyone to enjoy.”

One of the Circus Royale’s more unusual attractions is its three performing black and white cows.

The cattle travel in a purpose built semi-trailer, which also holds the circus’ geese, goats, camels, llamas, horses and ponies.

Circus Royale head trainer Robin Howell said the cattle were a unique attraction.

“Circus Royale is the first to include performing animals of the bovine variety in its line-up,” he said.

“They are a unique attraction.”

Mr Howell said the multi-talented waltzing and dancing Friesians had so far been a hit with patrons, especially farmers.

“Now when I drive down the road and see farmers with their cows I look at them in a completely different light.” The cattle will be joined by dogs, camels and horses as well as acrobats and clowns.

via Dancing cows milk applause | Ipswich Events | Whats on in Ipswich | Ipswich Queensland Times.

“What the….performing cow’s? I’m lost for words!!

11 Reasons to Stop Eating Dairy

Milk and dairy products are not the health foods we’ve been told they are.  Here are 11 reasons to stop consuming them:  

1. Cow’s milk is intended for baby cows.  We’re the only species (other than those we are domesticating) that drinks milk after infancy.  And, we’re definitely the only ones drinking the milk of a different species

2.  Hormones. Not only are the naturally-present hormones in cow’s milk stronger than human hormones, the animals are routinely given steroids and other hormones to plump them up and increase milk production.  These hormones can negatively impact humans’ delicate hormonal balance.

3.  Most cows are fed inappropriate food.  Commercial feed for cows contains all sorts of ingredients that include:  genetically-modified (GM) corn, GM soy, animal products, chicken manure, cottonseed, pesticides, and antibiotics

4.  Dairy products, when metabolized, are acid-forming.  Our bodies are constantly striving for biochemical balance to keep our blood at 7.365 pH.  Eating excessive acid-forming products can cause our bodies to overuse some of its acid-balancing mechanisms, one of which is the bones.  Alkaline calcium is stored in the bones and released to combat excessive acidity in the body.  Over time, bones can become fragile.

5.  Research shows that the countries whose citizens consume the most dairy products have the HIGHEST incidence of osteoporosis.

6.  Most dairy cows live in confined, inhumane conditions, never seeing the pastures of green grass they were intended to eat.

7. Most dairy products are pasteurized to kill potentially-harmful bacteria.  During the pasteurization process, vitamins, proteins, and enzymes are destroyed.  Enzymes assist with the digestion process.  When they are destroyed through pasteurization, milk becomes harder to digest, therefore putting a strain on our bodies’ enzyme systems.

8.  Dairy products are mucous-forming. They can contribute to respiratory disorders.  When I remove dairy and sugar from the diets of my clients, they stop experiencing hay fever and seasonal allergies.

9.  Research links dairy products with arthritis. In one study on rabbits, scientist Richard Panush was able to PRODUCE inflamed joints in the animals by switching their water to milk.  In another study, scientists observed more than a 50% reduction in the pain and swelling of arthritis when participants eliminated milk and dairy products from their diet.

10  Most milk is homogenized, which denatures the milk’s proteins, making it harder to digest.  Many peoples’ bodies react to these proteins as though they are “foreign invaders” causing their immune systems to overreact.  Research also links homogenized milk to heart disease.

11.  Pesticides in cow feed find their way into milk and dairy products that we consume.

Check out my Dairy-Free Soft Cheese recipe for a delicious alternative to dairy cheese

Written by Michelle Schoffro Cook

Michelle Schoffro Cook, MSc, RNCP, ROHP, DNM, PhD is an international best-selling and twelve-time book author and doctor of traditional natural medicine, whose works include

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/11-reasons-to-stop-eating-dairy.html#ixzz1n3JGVCde
via 11 Reasons to Stop Eating Dairy | Care2 Healthy Living.

If you thought our cows processing milk was bad, look at this