Mega Dairy Application Withdrawn

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" Viva! USA " <info

 

 

For Immediate Release: For more information:

November 1, 2002 lauren Ornelas

530/759-8482

 

Mega Dairy Application Withdrawn

Animal Advocates Call It a Victory

 

 

Dixon, CA: The Citizen Action Group Against Mega Dairies was formed earlier

this year to fight the influx of mega dairies into Solano County. It has

kept constant pressure on Solano County officials to deny another mega dairy

application. The Citizen Action Group just received word that a second 6,000

cow mega dairy has withdrawn its application to the Planning Commission for

a permit to do business. One 6,000-cow mega dairy has already received a

permit and has started building its dairy facility. A 1,200 cow feedlot

would like to get a permit, but The Citizen Action Group vows to keep the

pressure on to stop it.

 

" We are relieved that residents will be spared the problems that accompany

mega dairies, " said lauren Ornelas, U.S. Director of Viva!, a member of the

Citizen Action Group. " The image of bucolic dairies where happy cows graze

on green grass is pure illusion. The reality is something far different.

These dairies cause suffering for cows and their calves while wreaking

ecological havoc in our communities. "

 

Viva! launched their campaign against the dairy industry at the State

Capitol last July, shining a spotlight on the two dairies that, at the time,

wanted to move into Solano County. They revealed video footage taken at the

two dairies, which currently are located in Southern California.

 

Viva!'s investigations documented that cows in mega-dairies are confined to

dirt and/or cement-floored enclosures. Continually impregnated to keep the

supply of milk flowing, their calves are taken away when they are just hours

old. Male calves are shipped off to confinement farms to be later

slaughtered for veal; females are chained to, or confined in, small huts

until they are old enough to be impregnated and begin producing milk. The

constantly pregnant and lactating cows are spent by age 5 or 6 when they are

then slaughtered. A cow's normal lifespan is 25 years.

 

California - the nation's top dairy producing state - and its 2,700 dairies

with an estimated 1.5 million cows, produce an astounding 30 million tons of

manure each year. The U.S. EPA considers management of dairy waste a top

environmental issue for California; in 1998, the State Water Resources

Control Board reported the water quality of nine rivers and 49 ground water

basins were contaminated by animal operations.

 

" We encourage people to do what they can to limit the animal suffering and

environmental pollution by giving up dairy and consuming some of the

delicious animal-free alternatives that currently exist, " said Ornelas.

 

Citizen Action Group Against Mega Dairies: Residents of Solano County,

Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, Animal Place, Animal

Protection Institute, The Fund for Animals, and Viva!

 

 

Viva!USA

P.O. Box 4398

Davis, CA 95617

www.vivausa.org

info

530/759-8482