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A dairy farm in Indiana has been the subject of a thorough review after a video undercover published by an animal rights group revealed that newborn calves were abused by farm employees. Images show Fair Oaks Farms workers dragging calves by the ears, throwing them into small plastic pens and hitting them with milk bottles.
The abuse extends to kicks and calf strokes, as well as force-feeding until they can no longer breathe. The video was filmed by a member of Animal Recovery Mission, who got a job at Fair Oaks Farms and found himself undercover as an employee from August to November of last year, reports CBS Chicago. The farm is located about 75 miles southeast of Chicago.
The animal recovery video recently released the video, prompting local law enforcement to launch an investigation.
Animal recovery mission
The calves seemed to be in dirty, overcrowded and hot conditions. The temperature readings show that it was more than 100 degrees inside their boxes. The videos show that dead calves were thrown into mass graves by employees.
Animal Recovery Mission also claims that the supervisors and the owners of the farm were aware of the conditions and took part in the abuse.
In response to the video, the Jewel-Osco grocery chain announced that it was withdrawing all Fairlife products from Fair Oaks Farms.
"At Jewel-Osco, we strive to maintain high standards of animal welfare in all areas of our business and work in partnership with our suppliers to ensure these standards are met." We apologize for everything inconvenience, "spokeswoman Mary Frances Trucco told CBS Chicago in an email. .
Fairlife dairy products
Mike McCloskey is the owner of Fairlife Dairy and Fair Oaks Farms. He issued a video statement as a result of the repercussions of the revelations of the animal recovery mission.
"I am disgusted and take full responsibility for the actions presented in the film, as this goes against everything we stand for in the care and comfort of cows," McCloskey said. a written statement posted on the company's website.
"The employees featured in the video have shown total disregard for the documented training followed by all employees to ensure the comfort, safety and welfare of our animals."
Fair Oaks Farms said five people on the video were identified and four of them were farm employees. The fifth person is a truck driver who works for a third party.
Colleagues caught three of the four employees abusing animals, reported them to management, and were fired before the Animal Recovery Mission video was released. The fourth was fired Tuesday, according to Fair Oaks Farms.
The truck driver, who was responsible for picking up the calves, will no longer be allowed on Fair Oaks Farms.
"A full investigation into all aspects of the video is underway during and after which disciplinary action will be taken, including termination and criminal prosecution, of all employees and officers who have violated our animal welfare practices. law or both, "The statement reads.
Fairlife has announced that it is immediately suspending deliveries and offering more animal welfare training to employees. The company has also promised to increase animal welfare controls and will no longer receive dairy products from farms that violate its animal abuse policy.
It is unclear whether Fairlife will still get dairy products from Fair Oaks Farms, since both belong to the same man.
Below is McCloskey's complete statement regarding Fair Oaks Farms:
This morning, I heard about a video about animal abuse produced by the Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) group and aired for the public and the press. Most of the images in this video were captured in one of the dairies owned by Fair Oaks Farms. A few months ago, although we were aware of the fact that ARM, under cover of infiltration at Fair Oaks Farms, had proactively made a statement, we did not know what kind of film had been captured or what type of abuse had been committed.
It was with great disappointment that, after a close look at the published ARM video, five people engaged in multiple acts of animal cruelty and despicable judgment. Of the five, four were our employees and one was a third-party truck driver who was picking up calves. Three of the four employees were already fired before we were informed of the ARM infiltration operation, as they had been identified by their colleagues as abusive of our animals and reported to management. So in this example, our cow care training policy – "see something, say something" – has worked. After viewing the video frame by frame, these three employees are responsible for the vast majority of the offenses described in this video.
Unfortunately, the mistreatment of the fourth employee's animals was not apprehended at the same time. Although he followed another training session on animal care when we discovered that there was an ARM type infiltration operation on our farm, he was fired today. after seeing the extent of his aggression towards animals.
As for the person who worked for the transportation company, today we will inform the company for which he works and he will no longer be allowed on our farms. We are of the opinion that any company that comes in contact with the transportation of our animals must be familiar with and respect our industry's animal welfare practices, which we can find in FARM.
A few months ago, when I learned about the existence of the infiltration activity, I asked a third party to conduct a review and we followed a process reconversion in all dairies. Although the review has returned favorably, I will not let my guard down and I will institute more in-depth monitoring and training so that these abuses never happen again. This video and all future videos will be immediately handed over to the authorities for review and possible prosecution.
Whatever it is, I am disgusted by the actions presented in the film and take full responsibility for them, as this goes against everything we defend in terms of responsible care and comfort of cows. The employees featured in the video showed total disregard for the documented training followed by all employees to ensure the comfort, safety and well-being of our animals.
It's a shock and a revelation for us to discover that under our watch, we had employees who showed contempt for our animals, our processes and the rule of law. This ARM video highlights an area that – despite our extensive training, employee integration procedures and the overall commitment to animal welfare – needs to be improved. However, as I have already said, the fact that ARM takes months to inform owners or authorities of the current status of animal abuse is a matter of concern. I have personally contacted the founder of ARM, Richard Couto, to discuss a more symbiotic relationship, but he has not yet communicated with him.
A full investigation into all aspects of the video is underway, during which and after which disciplinary action will be taken, including termination and criminal prosecution, of all employees and officers who have violated our privacy practices. animals, the law or both.
The assertion that we grow and sell drugs on our farms is false. The plants featured in the video are a perennial invasive species that plagues Midwestern farms. That said, I am disappointed to learn that drugs could be used on our properties. A few months ago, his colleagues gave one of our managers the person seen smoking near the barn and taking drugs in a truck. This official informed the local law enforcement authorities of drug abuse and, as a result, a police report is on file.
It is with heavy heart that I am preparing this statement today. As a veterinarian whose life and work is dedicated to the care, comfort and safety of all animals, it has deeply affected me. I am disappointed not to be aware of this horrible treatment and I take full responsibility for what happened. I also take full responsibility for correcting and ensuring that every employee understands, adopts and applies the core values upon which our organization is built.
I am and will continue to actively participate in the resolution of this problem, to each of our employees, to ensure that these actions will never happen again on any of our farms.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have comments or questions.
Dr. Mike McCloskey
Fair Oaks Farms
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