Dairy licence reinstated amid abuse concerns

The dairy licence of a British Columbia farm has been conditionally reinstated by the B.C. Milk Marketing Board after being suspended Oct. 27 due to allegations of animal abuse.

Cedar Valley Farms in Abbotsford was investigated after a video was submitted to the B.C. SPCA that allegedly included workers beating cows with wrenches.

“B.C. Milk has confirmed there were multiple violations of the Code of Practice (for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle) at this farm,” the board said in a statement Nov. 12.

“The B.C. SPCA is continuing its investigation, which may lead to charges under the B.C. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act or Criminal Code.”

Meanwhile, the board will work with the B.C. Dairy Association “to fully review policies and procedures currently in place for the industry, including its farm inspection programs.”

A video by an anonymous source that was apparently taken between June and October showed alleged incidents that included cows being “violently beaten with canes, wrenches and pitchforks on their faces, legs and bodies,” said a statement by Animal Justice, which is a national animal law advocacy organization.

Other alleged incidents included “cows painfully limping and emaciated,” as well as being dragged by heavy machinery. There was also alleged “botched euthanasia, with cows shot in the head repeatedly over the course of many minutes.”

The video was turned over by Animal Justice to the B.C. SPCA. As part of the reinstatement of the dairy licence, B.C. Milk said it imposed several mandatory conditions on Cedar Valley Farms.

They include appointing a third-party consultant reporting directly to the board to oversee the farm’s management and employees, ensuring they are “executing the cultural change in animal care and handling practices required by B.C. Milk.”

They must also undertake cattle handling training and “sign a cattle care commitment, subject to verification and review.” The board will also be appointing a dairy animal welfare expert to provide training.

Regular herd health and welfare audits will be conducted by an independent veterinarian engaged by the board.

“Over the next 12 months, Cedar Valley Farms will (also) be subject to monthly unannounced animal welfare inspections by B.C. Milk,” with all oversight and monitoring costs assumed by the farm.

The board said further conditions may be added to the dairy licence at any time depending on the B.C. SPCA’s investigation.

B.C. Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Lana Popham said in a statement she believed the “vast majority” of dairy producers are meeting the board’s code of practice.

“B.C. ranchers and livestock producers take great pride in the care they provide their animals and in their role as stewards of the land.”

Rebeka Breder, an animal rights lawyer in Vancouver and a member of the board of advisers for Animal Justice, said the alleged animal abuse is not a lone case involving an alleged “quote unquote bad apple.”

“I think it’s a systemic problem that we have in our current agricultural system where animals are not treated properly by any stretch of the imagination, no matter what farmers try to tell us.”

Codes of practice set by bodies such as the National Farm Animal Care Council are “essentially the fox guarding the henhouse” because they involve producer-led associations setting rules for themselves, she said.

“I shouldn’t even say ‘rules’ — that sets guidelines for themselves.”

Breder said Canada must enact specific legislation targeting the keeping of farm animals, along with a system of third-party, government-funded inspectors to check the conditions on farms at any time. Cameras also need to be mandatory on farms, ensuring transparency and accountability for “vulnerable farmed animals that are mainly hidden from the public,” she said in an email.

However, such measures have been blocked by an agriculture industry “that has very strong lobbyists that the government is listening to,” she said in an interview.

“And it’s a complicated question — it affects thousands of people, farmers, their employees, families. It’s not an easy system to fix overnight, that’s for sure, but we have seen time and time again the amount of cruelty that happens on farms where animals are kept.”

Holger Schwichtenberg, chair of the B.C. Dairy Association, said he had viewed the video involving Cedar Valley Farms and was “upset, hurt and outraged” that such incidents had allegedly occurred.

“I mean, I’ve been (a dairy farmer) for 40 years, and I care about my animals. I want them to have a respectful life treated with dignity, and treated like I’m treated.”

He said dairy farmers have developed national initiatives such as proAction, which promotes everything from animal care to environmental stewardship.

Breder said in the email she appreciated “that animal farmers believe they are doing good by providing food for others and making an income to support their own families. However, I hope they will transition into plant-based farming, which will be better for the environment, health, and of course, animals.”