I have been praying about this issue for more than a year. And ever since, I have been nudged and nudged to write a letter to the paper.
I travel each day 200 to 300 miles through the tri-county area in Wisconsin. Green County is so beautiful, and the perfect example of America's dairyland. As you drive around in some areas, each hill or curve you go over, or around, absolutely takes your breath away.
I thank God for the wonderful farmers we have that take such wonderful care of their animals.
Some of the things I see, though, are a bit hard to stomach. Cows or any animals confined to a filthy pen; empty feeding racks; small calves in a muddy pen, a shelter, just a roof to lay under, with frozen mud up their sides. Why do I see small heifers standing huddled by a barn, unable to get in? Is it too much work to clean the barn? Today, the wind chill is 20 below zero. If 40 degrees is fairly comfortable - without cold rain or sleet - that's 60 degree too cold.
Cattle are meant to graze - if possible, get the noxious weeds out and make a decent pasture. If you feed them in a pen, give them a clean dry place to lay down at night. Keep decent hay available.
Why do I see horses with blankets on and a barn to go in, while others are in a wide open field with no protection and no hay available?
I read in the paper tonight about the reason for not letting calves nurse. My dad farmed for 45 years - the calves all nursed for a while. He never had a calf injured and all animals were indoors in the winter. Sorry, but these calves deserve to be with mom a few days.
All of these animals deserve to be treated decently. A little education from neighboring farmers (peer pressure) might help.
Calves in huts, lots of nice clean straw, dogs in dog houses, nice clean straw, not nearly often enough.
Check the dogs for fleas. This is a bad year. Also, if you have goats, comb the burrs and mats out of their fur and tails. That has to be extremely uncomfortable.
Please think of your animals' comfort. They are dependent on you.
Thanks for any improvement you can make.
I travel each day 200 to 300 miles through the tri-county area in Wisconsin. Green County is so beautiful, and the perfect example of America's dairyland. As you drive around in some areas, each hill or curve you go over, or around, absolutely takes your breath away.
I thank God for the wonderful farmers we have that take such wonderful care of their animals.
Some of the things I see, though, are a bit hard to stomach. Cows or any animals confined to a filthy pen; empty feeding racks; small calves in a muddy pen, a shelter, just a roof to lay under, with frozen mud up their sides. Why do I see small heifers standing huddled by a barn, unable to get in? Is it too much work to clean the barn? Today, the wind chill is 20 below zero. If 40 degrees is fairly comfortable - without cold rain or sleet - that's 60 degree too cold.
Cattle are meant to graze - if possible, get the noxious weeds out and make a decent pasture. If you feed them in a pen, give them a clean dry place to lay down at night. Keep decent hay available.
Why do I see horses with blankets on and a barn to go in, while others are in a wide open field with no protection and no hay available?
I read in the paper tonight about the reason for not letting calves nurse. My dad farmed for 45 years - the calves all nursed for a while. He never had a calf injured and all animals were indoors in the winter. Sorry, but these calves deserve to be with mom a few days.
All of these animals deserve to be treated decently. A little education from neighboring farmers (peer pressure) might help.
Calves in huts, lots of nice clean straw, dogs in dog houses, nice clean straw, not nearly often enough.
Check the dogs for fleas. This is a bad year. Also, if you have goats, comb the burrs and mats out of their fur and tails. That has to be extremely uncomfortable.
Please think of your animals' comfort. They are dependent on you.
Thanks for any improvement you can make.
