Ohio Veal Calf Farm Exposed in New Video: Shows Calves Covered in Feces and Chained by their Necks in Narrow Stalls

Note: this post went live yesterday, but I found out today that Costco is actually a big customer of this group. As a consumer, you should know this.

I have embedded the actual video shown in the article below. Again, you can’t argue against video. Anyone still not aware of the hell and suffering baby veal calves endure just isn’t paying attention.

Article:

Activists Say State Board Not Doing Enough To Protect Animals

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/aug/31/3/mercy_for_animals_accuses_veal_farm-ar-216504/

By Marshall McPeek & Donna Willis

Published: August 31, 2010

Updated: August 31, 2010 - 12:07 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Animal-rights activists lash out at the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board Tuesday morning, saying the board is dragging its feet and not doing enough to protect animals.

Mercy For Animals released a new, undercover video Tuesday morning, hosted by TV star Bob Barker, that shows the conditions and treatment of calves at an Ohio veal farm.

According to a statement from the animal-rights group Mercy For Animals, the video shows calves covered in feces and chained by their necks in narrow stalls, where they are unable to turn around or walk.

WARNING: Video May Be Disturbing To Some Viewers.

The group said the footage shows the calves in 2-feet-wide wooden veal crates, which restrict the animals from lying down comfortably, breathing fresh air, seeing sunlight, cleaning themselves or bonding with their mothers.

The activists said the video is an example of standard veal-production practices and they call on the OLCSB to immediately ban those practices.

The group said the video was recorded covertly April 19, 2010, during a walking tour of a Northwest Ohio veal farm.

NBC 4 attempted to contact the farm in question and has left messages.

NBC 4 has not received a response from the farm and will release the farm's name when a statement is obtained.

Mercy for Animals said it sent a letter to the OLCSB Monday, Aug. 30, to demand action.

It has not yet received a response.

Mercy For Animals is the same group that released video from a dairy farm in Union County, showing workers beating cows with crowbars, stabbing them with pitchforks and punching them in their heads.

Will Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm Sign Legislation Requiring that Farm Animals Confined in Small Spaces have Enough Room to Fully Extend Limbs?

If the bill is signed, it will make Michigan “…the seventh state to ban certain cages and crates.”

As always, we aren’t saying that this bill is perfect, but, should it be signed, it’s just another positive step toward future stronger measures and toward educating people as to the realty of confining farm animals such as veal calf crates and gestation stalls affecting pregnant pigs.

As stated below, “[t]he bill applies to egg-laying hens, pregnant pigs and veal calves. Commonly used cages for hens and stalls for pregnant pigs will be banned in about 10 years - veal crates in three years.”

Article:

Law protects farm-animal rights

Granholm set to sign bill banning cramped cages, crates in Michigan

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20091003/NEWS04/910030318/1005/NEWS04/Law-protects-farm-animal-rights

David Eggert • Associated Press • October 3, 2009 • From Lansing State Journal


Gov. Jennifer Granholm is expected to soon sign legislation requiring that farm animals confined in small spaces have enough room to fully extend their limbs and making Michigan the seventh state to ban certain cages and crates.

The bill is a compromise between the farm industry and animal rights groups, which have tussled in the Capitol over the care of farm animals. The Humane Society of the United States says it no longer will push a 2010 ballot initiative on the issue.

Granholm supports the legislation, her office said Friday, a day after the measure won final approval in the Legislature.

Michigan has about 200 industrial livestock farms that each keep thousands of animals in confined areas.

The bill applies to egg-laying hens, pregnant pigs and veal calves. Commonly used cages for hens and stalls for pregnant pigs will be banned in about 10 years - veal crates in three years.

Animal advocates consider close confinement inhumane.

"Giving animals enough room to turn around and extend their limbs is something we can all support," said Gene Baur, co-founder of Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, N.Y., the first haven for rescued farm animals in the country.

Farming groups say the legislation is better than the ballot proposal threatened by animal welfare groups, which would have phased out the cages sooner and put more "onerous" penalties on farmers who violate the law.

"No one likes change and no one likes to spend money to make those changes," said Jim Byrum, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association. "The fact of the matter is that agriculture recognizes we must be more responsive to consumer demand and perceptions."

National restaurant chains such as Burger King have been asking suppliers for more cage-free eggs and crate-free pork.

The Humane Society says Michigan is the second state to ban battery cages for chickens, the fifth to ban veal crates and the seventh to ban stalls for pregnant pigs. The stalls still can be used in the week before a pig's due date. Each hen will have to have at least 1 square foot of usable floor space.

"Stop Animal Cruelty" Measure in California Passes: Bans Farmers from Raising Egg-Laying Hens, Veal Calves, Pregnant Pigs in Small Cages by 2015

The final percentage I saw was 63 to 33%, so, an overwhelming victory.

As always, any measure in this direction is positive. All can hope though that this measure raises awareness to the cruelty of these industries and subsequently, to people to stop eating veal, etc. This measure simply allows more room for the penned.

For those who need a reminder as to the cruelty of veal, including photos and pictures of abused baby cows, see: http://www.noveal.org/

Article:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/04/MN6V13QHQJ.DTL&type=politics

A measure that would ban farmers from raising egg-laying hens, veal calves and pregnant pigs in small cages and crates by 2015 appeared to be headed for victory Tuesday night.Supporters of Proposition 2 said the initiative would guarantee farm animals a better life, giving them the space they need to stand up, turn around, lie down and extend their wings, as well as prevent diseases caused by overcrowding.

Opponents argue that the measure would put California's egg industry out of business, as well as put consumers at risk for disease from imported eggs produced in countries with less stringent standards.

Voters seemed to be siding with the Humane Society of the United States, the backers of the initiative. With nearly a third of the precincts reporting, the "Stop Animal Cruelty" measure was winning by a ratio of better than 3 to 2.

"It's common sense to give animals raised for food enough space to turn around," said Wayne Pacelle, president and chief operating officer of the Humane Society. "We are heartened and encouraged by the returns that provide affirmation of that principle."

Florida, Arizona, Colorado and Oregon have passed similar laws for swine and veal.
But California would be the first state in the nation to demand that all egg-producing chickens be kept in more spacious enclosures or free to roam a henhouse.

Most pig and veal farmers in the state have already gone to larger pen sizes for their animals, making the battle mostly between poultry ranchers and animal-rights activists.

California produces about 6 percent of the nation's table eggs, a $330 million business in 2007. Fifty percent of the eggs sold in California come from other states.

Five to 8 percent of the eggs produced in the state come from cage-free chickens. The majority of California's fryer and broiler chickens are already cage-free.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Signs Historic Farm Animal Welfare Law: SB 201 Phases Out Gestation Crates for Pigs and Veal Crates for Calves

I’ll state the obvious – a strong move that sets a precedent towards further legislation in other locations. As stated below, in summary, “SB 201 phases out veal crates within four years and gestation crates within 10 years. It also jumpstarts a process, to be administered by the Agriculture Commissioner, to allow for ongoing dialogue between agriculture and animal welfare groups.”

Obviously, 10 years is an unreasonably long time to implement such simple changes. Yet, it’s not simply the act that will lead to change, but also the success of such a law passing. This move sends a strong message that the crating of pigs and calves is unnecessary, and even industry supports phasing out such inhumane and archaic practices.

Please read on for further information. The posting below comes from the website of the Humane Society of the United States

Article:

Governor Ritter Signs Historic Farm Animal Welfare Measure into Law

http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases

/cogestationvealcrates051408.html

May 14, 2008

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed landmark legislation prohibiting two controversial factory farm confinement methods. Specifically, the new law will phase out gestation crates and veal crates—individual cages that confine breeding sows and veal calves.

The measure came as the result of negotiations by The Humane Society of the United States and Colorado agricultural groups. SB 201 was introduced by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Jim Isgar (D-Hesperus) and House Agriculture Committee Chair Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison). Governor Bill Ritter, Agriculture Commissioner John Stulp, and Colorado State University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy Dr. Bernard Rollin, played crucial and leading roles in the negotiations.

"Americans demand humane treatment of animals, including animals raised for food. With this measure, adversaries turned into allies to advance animal welfare concerns," stated Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "Through cooperation, progress on this important issue can indeed belong to everyone."

SB 201 gained support in both the House and Senate, with the House approving it 59-4 and the Senate approving it unanimously.

"This legislation is proof that humane groups and agriculture interests can work together to find common ground and move toward better treatment of farm animals," added Professor Bernard Rollin, who has worked closely with humane organizations and agricultural groups and played an instrumental role in the negotiations. "The movement toward ending abuses such as gestation crates and veal crates is unmistakable, and states elsewhere should follow this example."

SB 201 phases out veal crates within four years and gestation crates within 10 years. It also jumpstarts a process, to be administered by the Agriculture Commissioner, to allow for ongoing dialogue between agriculture and animal welfare groups.

The HSUS has officially withdrawn a ballot initiative petition on the same subject, which would have also phased out the confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages. The HSUS, Colorado agriculture groups, and Commissioner Stulp agreed to continue to have dialogue on that issue.

Facts:

* Nearly 150,000 breeding pigs are confined in gestation crates in Colorado. While the state has no current veal industry, its sizable dairy industry could potentially attract veal operations, and the veal crate provision was a preemptive measure.

* Gestation crates are barren, two-foot-wide individual metal cages so small, the animals cannot even turn around. Veal crates are narrow wooden stalls that prevent calves from turning around or lying down comfortably. The calves are typically chained by their necks and suffer immensely.

* Colorado is now the first state in the country to ban the use of gestation crates and veal crates by action of a state legislature. Florida, Arizona and Oregon have prohibited gestation crates. Arizona has prohibited veal crates. And a California measure to prohibit veal crates, gestation crates and battery cages recently qualified for November's ballot.

* Smithfield Foods, the largest U.S. pig producer, is phasing out gestation crates, and the American Veal Association voted to urge the entire veal industry to phase out veal crates. Colorado-based chain Chipotle already refuses to buy any pork from producers that use gestation crates. Chains such as Safeway, Burger King, Carl's Jr. and Hardees have also implemented policies to reduce their reliance on gestation crate pork.