Shocking Animal Abuse Undercover Video Leads To Nestlé Dropping Supplier, Farm Employees Fired

An undercover investigator with Compassion Over Killing (COK) has released a shocking video showing cows at a Pa dairy farm being punched, kicked, stomped, prodded, burned, and drug by machinery.

Working inside Martin Farms in Chambersburg Pennsylvania, COK’s investigator documented violent abuse of mother cows and their calves. The group says this is some of the worst abuse they’ve ever documented. They say it also shows practices representative of what life is like for animals on a typical dairy farm.

COK’s investigator followed a truck from this factory farm to an ice cream facility, owned by the world’s largest dairy company: Nestlé, the maker of ice cream brands including Dreyer’s, Edy’s, and Häagen-Dazs.

COK’s shocking video reveals:

• “Downed” cows, unable to walk or stand, hoisted by their hips with metal clamps, to be moved or chained and dragged by tractor
• A manager shooting a “downed” cow in the head, who remains conscious for almost a minute before she’s finally shot for the last time
• Farm manager stabbing a cow with a sharp instrument in a botched attempt to supposedly treat a stomach ailment. The cow bleeds heavily and receives no pain relief or veterinary care.
• “Downed” cows abused, killed, and butchered on site, the meat distributed to workers in garbage bags
• Workers spraying cows in the face with scalding hot water to force them to move faster
• A cow with a teat that had been sliced off, bleeding as she’s being milked
• Cows, many sick and injured, being hit, stomped on, or kicked by workers
• Cows suffering bloody, painful uterine prolapses and open sores denied vet care

Watch the video here:

WARNING - THE VIDEO IS SHOCKING

Martin Farms, which has been raising cows for the past 45 years, follows the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management or FARM Program. The farm's Animal Care Reference Manual prohibits willful mistreatment of animals described acts that maliciously cause pain, injury or suffering.

After obtaining the video, Compassion Over Killing viewed it and filed an animal abuse complaint with the Pennsylvania State Police, who confirm they are aware of the allegations of animal cruelty. Police say Martin Farms has been fully cooperative and no charges have been filed in the ongoing investigation.

Nestlé's Response:
After seeing the video and documentation of abuse, Nestlé, who's motto is “Good food, Good life,”, responded that it immediately severed ties with Martin Farms.

"We are deeply disturbed and shocked at the mistreatment of dairy cows shown in this video, and strongly condemn it. Consumers trust us to hold our suppliers to strong standards, and these actions violate that trust. As soon as we learned of this issue, we immediately stopped accepting milk from Martin Farm." Nestlé told ABC 7.

Martin Farms Response: Martin Farms issued a statement on April 3rd stating “We do not tolerate any animal mistreatment” and “we are shocked that these incidents took place on our farm.” The company said that “All employees shown in the video mishandling animals…have been terminated.”

Four employees identified in the video mishandling animals were immediately fired as well as the foreman who was alerted to the abuse by our investigator but had also participated in abuse at the farm according to COK.