Animal

Workers filmed hitting and suffocating newborn calves to death at dairy farm


WARNING! Graphic content

The animal abuse was caught on camera by an undercover reporter (Picture: Animal Recovery Mission)

An investigation has been launched after workers were filmed hitting, kicking and suffocating newborn calves to death at a dairy farm in Indiana.

An undercover video released by an animal rights group reveals the gruesome animal abuse by employees at Fair Oaks Farms.

The workers can be seen dragging the calves by their airs, throwing them into small enclosures and even stomping on their heads.

The video also shows the animals being force-fed milk until they can’t breathe.

The footage was filmed by a member of Animal Recovery Mission, who went undercover as an employee from August to November last year, CBS Chicago reports.

The charity recently released the video, which has prompted local law enforcement to launch an investigation.

The horrific footage shows calves in overcrowded, filthy and hot conditions. Temperature readings measured more than 37C inside their enclosures.

Dead young calves were dumped in mass grave sites by employees after being beaten or suffocated to death, in the video.

Fairlife dairy gets its milk from Fair Oaks Farms, which are both owned by Mike McCloskey.

He said in a statement following the backlash: ‘I am disgusted by and take full responsibility for the actions seen in the footage, as it goes against everything that we stand for in regards to responsible cow care and comfort.

The workers force-fed the calves (Picture: Animal Recovery Mission)
The animals can be seen in overcrowded, filthy and hot conditions (Picture: Animal Recovery Mission)
They could be seen kicking the baby calves repeatedly (Picture: Animal Recovery Mission)
Four farm workers have been sacked for abusing animals (Picture: Animal Recovery Mission)
The video showed the animals getting thrown into tiny plastic enclosures (Picture: Animal Recovery Mission)
An investigation has been launched since the animals rights group released the video (Picture: Animal Recovery Mission)
Fairlife dairy gets its milk from Fair Oaks Farms, which are both owned by Mike McCloskey (Picture: Animal Recovery Mission)
One worker seen pulling a calf by his ear (Picture: Animal Recovery Mission)

‘The employees featured in the video exercised a complete and total disregard for the documented training that all employees go through to ensure the comfort, safety and well-being of our animals.’

Fair Oaks Farms said three of the four employees identified in the video were sacked before its release after colleagues caught them abusing animals and reported them to management.

The fourth was fired on Tuesday.

A fifth person in the video is a truck driver who works for a third party and will never be allowed on Fair Oaks Farms again.

The statement added: ‘A full investigation of all aspects of the video is underway, during and after which disciplinary action will be taken, including termination and criminal prosecution, of any and all employees and managers who have violated either our animal care practices or the law or both.’

Fairlife immediately suspended deliveries and said they will provide more animal welfare training for employees.

The milk has been removed by several chains in the US.

Fair Oaks Farms, which is a popular destination for school trips, was once called the ‘Disneyland of agricultural tourism’, by Food & Wine magazine.





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