Calves in Wisconsin are being left to die in the intense heat. The recent heat wave has left these newborns to fend for themselves on farms with improper shelter and water, while their mothers are held captive indoors hooked up to milking machines.
Dying in records numbers across the Midwest, more than half the affected herds are in Wisconsin, says the state’s Department of Agriculture.
The deaths are either caused by weakening from heat stress, bacterial infection or dehydration, the latter because newborns tend to drink little water.
Ag officials are advising dairy operators to take action to avoid more deaths, including hosing down calves with cool water in the afternoons, orienting hutches to take advantage of prevailing winds with the fronts in shade, elevating the backs, and bedding them with sand or wood shavings. Finally water or electrolytes should be readily available and hutch temperatures monitored.
Tell Wisconsin, don’t leave any more calves exposed to die.
We, the undersigned, urge Wisconsin to do what is needed to prevent any further calve deaths due to heat stress.
It is difficult to understand why the recommended steps weren't taken ahead of time to prevent this needless suffering.
The measures the Dept of Ag says are needed to keep the calves cool and hydrated are ones that don't seem excessive or expensive, and it seems following them ahead of time should have been the least expected of dairy farmers, since these calves are already deprived of their own mothers' care soon after birth.
Please see that all farms follow the recommendations needed to keep calves cool from now on, and don't allow anymore to die due to heat and neglect.
Thank you for your time.
