September 11, 2015

Farmer worker cuts the teats off 20 cows as an attack against his employer. No charges laid!

August 20, 2015

Cash-strapped dairy farmers are slaughtering thousands more cattle than usual in response to slumping milk prices. 

The national cow kill is up by more than 160,000 head on a year ago. Meat Board statistics for the processing year to July 25 showed the number of cows being processed in export-licenced plants was up 19 per cent on last year. 

In the North Island the week of July 25 the kill was 55 per cent higher than a year ago. In the South Island, the increase was 81 per cent.

August 13, 2015

But have a look at this! More and more evidence of neglect and abuse in the industry. From Farming Mums NZ page.

August 2015

Up until recently calves could be "hammered" to death on farms by farmers as a method of killing them. Blunt force trauma method of killing is the term used. This has now been generally banned but may still be used in some circumstances (from the NZ Dairy website) "The Ministry for Primary Industries has banned the use of blunt force trauma (a blow to the head) as a method to routinely put down calves.  Blunt force trauma can only be used to humanely put down animals in unforeseen emergencies. The recent change makes it clearer what is an emergency and what the allowable methods are to put down calves on-farm.Allowable methods include the use of a firearm, captive bolt firearm or a vet-administered injection.  Farmers need to be trained and competent in these methods." From this facebook post looks like some farmers aren't interested in change. From the Farmers in NZ fb page.

NZ Dairy Changes to induction rules for 2015 - no routine inductions

The final step in phasing out routine inductions will be introduced from 1 June 2015, when there will be no routine inductions on New Zealand dairy farms. This means that the 2014 calving season will be the last at the 4% limit.

Progress on the phasing out of routine inductions is reviewed annually and next season’s requirements are set through a partnership of Federated Farmers, DairyNZ, New Zealand Veterinary Association and Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand.

What is induction? find out more information here