Great Lakes Cheese, one of the largest cheese producers in the country, has just announced a significant new animal welfare policy that will improve the lives of thousands of cows across its dairy supply chain each year.
The policy follows a shocking undercover investigation by Mercy For Animals at Andrus Dairy in Birnamwood, Wis. – now a former supplier to Great Lakes Cheese – which exposed workers viciously punching, kicking and beating animals, hacking off their tails with pruning shears, shooting cows in the face and nostrils with high-pressured water hoses, and dragging them by their necks with ropes attached to tractors.
Recognizing the importance of meaningful animal welfare policies to prevent egregious abuse in its supply chain, Great Lakes Cheese is now requiring its dairy suppliers nationwide to abide by new animal welfare standards. The policy mandates an end to the cruel and unnecessary practice of tail docking by 2018, pain relief during disbudding or dehorning, provision of a safe, clean and sanitary environment for cows, and proper veterinary care for sick and injured animals.
Nestlé, the world's largest food company, also announced a comprehensive commitment to improved farmed animal welfare after a hidden-camera video taken by Mercy For Animals at a Nestlé dairy supplier in Wisconsin in 2013 exposed similar abuse. Nestlé’s policy change affects the company’s entire global supply chain, covering more than 7,300 suppliers in 90 countries. The footage from Wiese Brothers Farm in Greenleaf, Wisconsin, showed workers viciously kicking, beating and stabbing cows, and dragging "downed" cows by their fragile legs and necks using chains attached to tractors. Four farm workers were subsequently convicted of criminal animal abuse.
Unfortunately, the investigations that prompted these important policy changes are now under attack. Wisconsin representative Lee Nerison has stated his intention to introduce a dangerous "ag-gag" bill. This anti-whistleblower legislation would essentially criminalize the recording of undercover videos exposing animal cruelty on farms. Ag-gag bills effectively keep consumers in the dark about where their food comes from, threaten public health and hurt animals by shielding abusers from public scrutiny.
The following statement can be attributed to Nathan Runkle, president of Mercy For Animals:
"Mercy For Animals praises Great Lakes Cheese for taking animal welfare seriously and working toward ending some of the cruelest practices in its dairy supply chain. This policy, which includes an industry-leading commitment to eliminating tail docking within three years, will reduce the suffering of thousands of cows each year.
"While this is one of the most comprehensive animal welfare policies ever adopted by a major U.S. dairy company, we encourage Great Lakes Cheese to make this policy more meaningful by engaging third-party auditors to ensure that these standards are enforced.
"With Great Lakes Cheese’s announcement, it’s never been clearer that the days are numbered for dairy factory farms that beat, drag and mutilate animals without painkillers. It’s now time for Dean Foods, Land O’Lakes and other mega dairy companies to address animal cruelty within their supply chains by implementing and enforcing similar animal welfare requirements."
To view the undercover video that led to Great Lakes Cheese’s new animal welfare policy, visit GotMisery.com.
