To ask what is wrong with this cow

[SHAR0N]

This dairy cow belongs to the farmer in the next village and it looks very ill. Should I report it to the RSPCA?

I know nothing about cows or farming and don’t want to cause trouble if it’s normal. But I don’t want to ignore it if the animal is suffering.

I appreciate all the helpful posts.

The cows are in the field furthest away from the farm.

I know who they belong to but I’m reluctant to approach him as he’s quite aggressive. Another person in that village went to his door a few months ago because a cow had just given birth to a dead calf in the field and the farmer was pretty rude to him and didn’t go out to the animal.

Some of you said you couldn’t see the photos so heres better quality ones.

because a cow had just given birth to a dead calf in the field and the farmer was pretty rude to him and didn’t go out to the animal. Really?

OP those pictures are very outing because each cow has distinctive markings. Come back and explain yourself.

derxa you can’t just demand people come back and explain themselves, the OP doesn’t owe you anything - I’d love an explanation from you about that link you posted and why you think it’s relevant to this thread, but I can’t demand it from you.

you should have said that at the beginning OP. Nice drip feed.

In that case its pretty clear the animals are neglected

Phone the RSPCA (and tell them the dead calf history too)

Hi OP - I've got lots of farmer friends and I've never seen a cow quite as skinny as this before. I'd report it anonymously as if the farmer is treating it because it is sick, or there is some other positive explanation, it shouldn't go any further once it has been looked into.

I would have said go ask the farmer, but as you have said he is aggressive then maybe not , have you ever met him ? Perhaps just report to the RSPCA, although are they working at the moment ? Do you know anyone locally who knows the farm and farmer ?
Those are very thin cows. They could be elderly and/or unwell, so it may not be neglect, but it is good you are trying to find out.

Phone the RSPCA (and tell them the dead calf history too) Yes. I don't know why you didn't do that. If the farmer is neglectful then it needs reporting. Pick up the phone.

If you decide to report, then contact your local authority as well as the RSPCA.

www.gov.uk/guidance/farm-animals-looking-after-their-welfare

@derxa

because a cow had just given birth to a dead calf in the field and the farmer was pretty rude to him and didn’t go out to the animal. Really?

What do you mean? Why would I post it if it’s not true?

If you think I’m a troll, please go ahead and report to MN.

If you think the photos are identifying, please go ahead and PM me with name of the farm and I’ll happily tell you if you are right.

Why are you so agressive @derxa? I have posted perfectly politely asking for advice, because I don’t know what to do.

Jesus!!! RSPCA

I have posted perfectly politely asking for advice, because I don’t know what to do. Phone the RSPCA and the local large animal vet.

@EffYouSeeKaye

No male dairy calves are killed at birth on our farm. They all go to a beef farm to be reared there. The females are kept and raised here."

How old are the calves when you separate them from their mother?

So have you called the RSPCA yet? Please do it.

Farming is a business.

The average price for a in-milk holstein heifer is £1644.
Average milk yield approx 8000 litres a year @ 27.25p per litre, so animal make £2180 each lactation.
It is in a farmers interest to look after his cows and ensure that they are healthy and last as long as possible. It is a business.

The UK has very high welfare standards, we sell our milk to Arla and have to comply with their high standards or they won't buy our milk. There are rigorous assessments carried out by ourselves and independent assessors. The article that mentions bull calves being slaugthered at birth was dated 2018, things move on. We are not allowed to do this, all bull calves stay on the farm until at least 8 weeks then they go elsewhere to be raised as beef. Arla is demanding that all parts of the processing become Carbon Net Zero by 2050. We now spend as much time filling out forms and building bug hotels as we doing looking after the cows. Please refer to alrafoods.co.uk for further information.

As for the farmer being aggressive when previously approached, maybe he was having a bad day. He might have just failed a TB test and lost many of his cattle. He could be one of many farmers who since Covid has had to pour his milk down the drain. Maybe his mother had died or he could have just stubbed his toe. Bad days happen to everyone.

@Pellewsmate

That's interesting re: bull calves. So although they stay on the farm for 8 weeks, do they stay with their mother?

No.

Did you go to the link I provided?

She's in a field full of grass. Which means something is causing her to be unable to eat. Have you reported it yet? If not, why?

Poor thing, one of many reasons why I don’t eat animal products. Treating sentient animals as a commodity is a horrible thing.

I have posted perfectly politely asking for advice, because I don’t know what to do.

You've been advised what to do. Repeatedly.

@Pellewsmate

No.

Did you go to the link I provided?

I’ve read the link and I can’t see what happens to the bull calves, are they removed from their mothers at birth?

It may have been very ill and was inside s shed for treatment. Farmer may have recently let her out to convalesce.

@pellewsmate I was about to say that's a good milk price then saw you were with Arla! Lucky you they are one of the better ones

There are fewer and fewer dairy bull calves born in the UK since the introduction of sexed semen around 20 years ago, UK dairy focus is very much on welfare

@Outtheforest what breed and what sort of yield were you getting if you don't mind Me asking?

@Pellewsmate

I did, however I couldn't find any detailed information about the welfare standards you refer to. I thought it would be better to ask you, as you're a farmer and I don't often get this opportunity. So I hope you don't mind:
How soon after birth is the calf removed from the mother?
Where is the calf kept after that? I imagine some sort of individual pen?
How soon after birth is the cow inseminated again?

@Pellewsmate

In August 2019, an estimated 95,000 calves were killed at birth in the U.K. - www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/21/morrisons-moves-to-end-killing-of-male-calves-at-birth

This article from February 2020 states the same number: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.plantbasednews.org/.amp/culture/farming-boss-mass-slaughter-of-dairy-calves-as-own-goal

If you think we have moved on since 2018, I would be happy to see updated figures showing that this practice doesn’t happen any more.

And let’s bear in mind that this only relates to calves killed at birth. I find it only slightly less horrifying that many more are killed at 8 months old.

It may have been very ill and was inside s shed for treatment. Farmer may have recently let her out to convalesce.

If the op would just follow the advice of all the people who have taken the time and trouble to respond, and ring the RSPCA she may well be able to ascertain if this is the case