Abuse of cattle at B.C. dairy farm prompts industry ‘disgust,’ calls for reform

VANCOUVER – The head of the Dairy Farmers of Canada says he was disgusted and devastated about animal abuse caught on tape at a British Columbia dairy farm.

Wally Smith says the abuse of animals at Chilliwack Cattle Sales Ltd. is intolerable and the chairman of the B.C. Dairy Association, Dave Taylor, says the incident is a black mark on the industry.

The British Columbia SPCA has recommended charges against eight employees of the farm after they received a copy of the undercover video from the group Mercy for Animals, showing the cattle being beaten and abused with chains, sticks, feet and fists.

The SPCA says the incidents shows a need for better standards to protect farm animals in the province.

Chilliwack Cattle Sales Ltd. is Canada’s largest dairy farm with more than 3,500 cows in the Fraser Valley community, about 100 kilometres east of Vancouver.

The Vancouver Humane Society says there should be random inspections and mandatory video surveillance of livestock operations.