If anyone ever needed proof about the negative aspects of the human consumption of bovine milk, then take a look at this ! – Go Vegan !
Further to our recent post (07/07/12) regarding the latest disturbing photographs (as shown in this post) from a dairy farm in Rusko Selo, Northern Serbia:
https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2012/07/07/serbia-same-old-farm-exposed-again-and-an-ineffective-ministry-so-what-changes/
SAV have been working with our friends and expert global farm animal welfare campaigners at Uk based Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) about this particular situation.
CIWF Links:
http://www.ciwf.org.uk/
http://www.ciwf.org.uk/about_us/default.aspx
At the end of last week, we provided copies of all the most recent photographs from Rusko Selo to Phil Brooke, the Welfare Development Manager at Compassion in World Farming. Phil kindly gave his help and advice on this very same farm in the past when we uncovered the situation back in 2010::
Previous links:
https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/serbia-farm-anima
https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/serbia-farm-anima
https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/serbia-november-2
Again Phil has provided us with a formal CIWF statement which has today (10/07/12) been provided to Serbian campaigners to use and forward on to Serbian government Ministry officials – the very people who should be ensuring that situations like these seen at this farm never happen.
Below is a full transcript of the statement made by Phil Brooke after reviewing the recent photographs and information provided by SAV and Serbian welfare campaigners.
As Serbia is looking towards EU membership in the near future, we would like to draw attention to one particular part of the statement made by Phil; this being:
“The squalid conditions these cattle are being kept in plainly fail to meet basic welfare or hygiene standards as laid down by Council of Europe Convention and EU Directive which require that animals are prevented avoidable suffering and kept in conditions which avoid risks to their health. It is clear beyond doubt that what is shown in these photographs does not comply with existing EU legislation, and consequently could impact Serbian accession to the EU”.
We ask anyone who has concerns like us about this farm, to e mail the following, who are all associated with responsibility for ensuring animal welfare; we would suggest that you copy some photographs and the part of the statement given abobe, and mail this to the addresses given:
predsednikvladesrbije@gov.rs; zoran.marinkovic@minpolj.gov.rs ;
zoran.micovic@minpolj.gov.rs; s.celebicanin@minpolj.gov.rs,
office@minpolj.gov.rs; vetuprava@minpolj.gov.rs, muprs@mup.gov.rs
If a nation is looking at future EU membership, then it must do a lot better than to allow animals to be kept in non-EU standards. There is no further statement to be made – Serbia needs to improve big time !
We know that conditions on this Serbian farm are not a ‘one off’ – similar conditions are regular all over the country. We are now working with serbian campaigners to identify and expose these other facilities.
CIWF Statement
Unsanitary Conditions for Serbian dairy cattle at Rusko selo 1st July 2012
In 2010 we issued a statement relating to the environmental conditions for dairy cattle in this farm. We stated that is was clear from the photographs that these cattle were being kept in squalid, filthy, unhealthy and completely unacceptable conditions. The cattle in the pictures shown were standing in water contaminated with excrement. The matted nature of their coats shows that they were unable to keep clean and had clearly been in these conditions for some time.
We are disturbed to discover that in 2012, conditions do not seem to have improved. Pictures from the farm show the cattle lying in their own manure. Unsurprisingly, their coats were dirty due to being forced to lie in their own excrement. Contact between their udders and faeces and urine and dirt on the teats increases the risk of infection by a range of micro-organisms including e coli. These can cause mastitis which is a risk to the health and welfare of the cattle as well as to the health of people who consume dairy products from this farm. These are also conditions in which flies are likely to breed with further risks of disease spread.
In the event of rain it seems clear that the lying area would again become waterlogged. Wet feet can lead to a range of hoof conditions and increased risk of lameness.
Cattle need a comfortable, clean and well-drained area to lie down, receive adequate rest and remain healthy. The squalid conditions these cattle are being kept in plainly fail to meet basic welfare or hygiene standards as laid down by Council of Europe Convention and EU Directive which require that animals are prevented avoidable suffering and kept in conditions which avoid risks to their health.
It is clear beyond doubt that what is shown in these photographs does not comply with existing EU legislation, and consequently could impact Serbian accession to the EU. In the event of Serbia’s accession, these photographs could form the basis of a formal complaint to be made to the Legal Affairs Dept of the EU associated with animal welfare.
Phil Brooke
Welfare Development Manager
Compassion in World Farming
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes
Article 3
Member States shall make provision to ensure that the owners or keepers take all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of animals under their care and to ensure that those animals are not caused any unnecessary pain, suffering or injury.
From the Annex:
Animals not kept in buildings
12. Animals not kept in buildings shall where necessary and possible be given protection from adverse weather conditions, predators and risks to their health.
Ref: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/1998/l_221/l_22119980808en00230027.pdf
Council of Europe Convention covering the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes state, amongst other things:
Article 9
1. Animals should be maintained in a clean condition.
2. Those parts of the accommodation with which the animals come into contact should be thoroughly cleansed, and where appropriate, disinfected, everytime the accommodation has been emptied and before new animals are brought in. While the accommodation is occupied by the animals, the interior surfaces and all equipment therein shall be kept satisfactorily clean.
Ref: http://www.coe.int/t/e/legal_affairs/legal_co-operation/biological_safety,_use_of_animals/Farming/Rec%20cattle%20E.asp#TopOfPage
See a lot more very disturbing photographs of conditions at this same farm taken back in 2010 via the following links:
https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/serbia-farm-anima
https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/serbia-farm-anima
https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/serbia-november-2
The Serbian authorities did not act then as a result of our evidence. As you can see from the latest photographs, nothing has changed two years on !
Please take action and contact the authorities now – see above for further info.
Thanks – SAV.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 