Dairy Farmer admits cows are beaten in the milking parlour when being trained to be milked

national | animal rights | press release

Tuesday November 14, 2006 23:30

by Bernie Wright - Aliiance for Animal Rights

More farming Cruelty exposed.

A Cork –based Dairy farmer has admitted that animals are routinely beaten by farmers in an Irish Times article written by Agriculture Correspondent Sean Mac Connell on Tuesday last.10-11-06. This revelation of cruelty was made whilst referring to a German made immobiliser system which he uses, he said’

‘I am a dairy farmer and I treat my animals well. In fact this machine will prevent animals being beaten when they are being trained to be milked’

Mr Hayes said many farmers had responded to the advert, which he placed in the Farmers Journal seeking agents to sell these devices.

Dairy Farmer admits cows are beaten in the milking parlour when being trained to be milked

A Cork –based Dairy farmer has admitted that animals are routinely beaten by farmers in an Irish Times article written by Agriculture Correspondent Sean Mac Connell on Tuesday last.10-11-06. This revelation of cruelty was made whilst referring to a German made immobiliser system which he uses, he said’

‘I am a dairy farmer and I treat my animals well. IN FACT THIS MACHINE WILL PREVENT ANIMALS BEING BEATEN WHEN THEY ARE BEING TRAINED TO BE MILKED’

Mr Hayes said many farmers had responded to the advert, which he placed in the Farmers Journal seeking agents to sell these devices.

AFAR spokeswoman , Bernie Wright ,has urged the Department of agriculture to investigate the legality of the device which was advertised in the current edition of the Irish Farmers Journal.The advert sought agents to sell the e599 machine, which comes in a pack containing an aluminium rectal probe with a hardened plastic control unit. However the man who placed the advert , Clonakilty based dairy farmer Vivian Hayes said the device was legal and causes no stress to the animal.It uses electro magnetic pulses to calm the central nervous system and send signals to the brain. It is a very animal welfare friendly machine.

He said the device could be used in procedures such as branding, castration, de-budding (dehorning) and hoof trimming.

IT COULD ALSO BE USED TO TRAIN FRESHLY CALVED HEIFERS IN THE MILKING PARLOUR WITHOUT ANY SIDE EFFECTS AND COULD ALSO BE USED IN THE FOSTERING OF SUCK CALVES.(his words)

AFAR spokesperson said that “calves getting electronic probes shoved inside them and heifers after just giving birth receiving this torture has brought farming practises in Ireland to a new low. People who think that by drinking calves milk they are not causing animal suffering had better think again in light of this new admission. THESE DEVICES MUST BE BANNED IMMEDIATELY.

Farming was already cruel enough without allowing the sale of the rectal probe. We will be investigating this matter fully and we want to warn any potential agents that we will find out their names and shop anyone selling these devices to the Revenue Commissioners.Last April minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan announced she was banning electro-immobilisation on live farm animals from June 1st next.”

Bernie Wright ,AFAR Press Officer 087 2651720

*Vivian Hayes 023 38800 or 087 0555086