Editor:
If you have done any calf rearing you know how difficult the task at hand can be.
My husband and I took our son to a livestock auction as part of his 4-H learning experiences. This was not the first livestock auction we have attended.
What a learning experience it was. I love animals. I’m not an animal rights activist, vegan or vegetarian. We raise our dairy beef as a source of food for our family. I firmly believe that you treat your animals with respect. They aren’t here to be abused and mistreated by us.
My animals are cared for and loved yes I said loved while they are on my farm. I feel they don’t have very much time on this earth and they will have the best life and get the best care that they can have while they are here.
We are teaching our son that you respect animals whether it’s one of our cats, dogs, goats, hens or steer. While at the auction I was pleased to see that all our hard work with our son is paying off.
There was a young boy in the auction ring around the age of 6 who was assisting with moving calves. We were all very disturbed by his actions with these calves. He kept switching off between a show stick and a switch and hitting the calves wherever he wanted. He would pull back his arm as far as he could and swing.
My son was getting agitated by this and wanted to say something to the boy. My husband finally hollered to the auctioneer, not sure if the auctioneer did not care as he just smiled. They had four people in this half ring with this young boy being the aggressive one.
You could hear him hitting these poor calves long after they exited the ring. A calf so young only needs to be led by your hand placed on their pin bone.
These calves are already stressed out from being moved from the farm to the auction house and this just adds to the stress which in turn will add to health issues when the buyer takes their purchase home.
We should keep in mind that you never know who will be at you place of business and what they are learning while there. Let’s just hope it can be more positive than what was learned the day we attended the New Wilmington auction.
Jamie Ayers
Vienna, OH
There is no reason for treating a calf like this.It should of been stoped and a 6 year old should not be in the ring to start with.
I could not agree more with this letter. It is this kind of behavior which adds fuel to the controversy . Animal “rights” people often know very little about livestock raising and only have narrow examples like this to base their opinions on. This type of mistreatment is not exeptable on any level. Perhaps if the switch where used on the boy he would better understand its sting…. If you own animals of any kind, act responsible or get rid of them. WE ARE WATCHING.
Im not for abusing any animal but they have to be moved in order for the auctions to make money. Please dont go to any auctions in carrol county or columbiana county you will find that having a small child whip the calves is the least of problems.