The Animal Union has been observing bulls that have been living in the

same herd since birth. From bobby calves (calves up to thirty days old),

to being young bulls. As they have short lives in animal agriculture, we don't

get to see past this point. When we rescue them, we can! Bulls of all ages

have different dynamics with various members of their extended family. The

calves often have a friend or group they team up with - often with females too, just like humans. They play, sleep and eat together. If one sees a group setting off on adventure, they often run to catch up. The calves run and bounce around like puppy dogs and lambs. They are very fast and some young cow mothers join in. Mothers and calves can be best friends for life.

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The cows are like aunties to the calves that are not their own. The Union witnessed a calf that was lost in some dense shrub on the property and cried for help. Many cows, with their calves running behind them, ran to help. The Union has also witnessed the older calves coming to meet the new born calf. There are mother groups, where the mothers sit in a circle and the calves near by play. Occasionally one of the cows will come and check on the calf play group. Lots of licking goes on between mothers and calves.

 

Reports have stated that bulls that have lived together since bobby calves live in harmony even more so. Most likely as they have been friends their whole lives. Most are taken and killed at the slaughterhouse together, after a horrific trip in a truck - with no food or water. Their mothers spared, but only to be impregnated soon after, leaving them to go through this cycle over and over again. The mothers have a harrowing cry that never pauses and lasts for days. It sounds like they will hyperventilate at any moment. The silence to follow is just as haunting. This seems unimaginable, but a reality hidden from the public's view and one that The Animal Union has experienced some of first hand.

 

The image of the young bulls who are friends, lined up together to be killed, is one of the distressing influences that keeps The Animal Union focused and determined against all the odds. If anyone reading this can't shake the image also, then don't block it and help rather than shut down with overwhelm. We can't just let this happen because very few can be saved (as millions are killed annually in Australia) or don't want to think about where food - animal products - comes from. Sarah J's stomach turns daily over this reality.

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                                                                                                                 Male bobby calves in the dairy industry are killed immediately after birth,                                                                                                                    to approximately a week old. As with no milk to offer in the future and                                                                                                                         taking milk from their mothers - so from the farmers, they are seen as a                                                                                                                        burden. They are simply property, an object to discard - at the slaughter-                                                                                                                   house. The females are spared but will live a life of being repetitively                                                                                                                          artificially impregnated for their milk and sent to the slaughterhouse

                                                                                                                 at approximately five years old, when their milk production begins to

                                                                                                                 slow down or has already. Sold for cheap beef.

                                                                                                                

Many members of the public are learning about the horrific reality of the dairy industry and some farmers have responded to the public's outcry with an unknown portion of male bobby calves remaining with their mothers. What they don't reVEAL is that the bulls will be taken to the slaughterhouse at approximately six months old to be killed for cheap veal. Some farmers confine the bulls in a very restrictive space so they can barely move. This lack of movement is what creates the pale colour of veal.

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Bulls and cows can live up to twenty years old. In the beef industry they are reared for meat and killed by one and half years old. The cows and bulls you saw on your last holiday to the country have long gone and been replaced, or are about to be taken to the abattoir. Harsh to read about but the existence all the animals we are trying to rescue face without our interference.

 

Purchasing meat and dairy is not the same after the true knowledge about where it comes from is no longer unknown. It is impossible to remove from the forefront of one's mind. This is a normal reaction to have. It is a very powerful (offered unwanted) insight to gain and the imagery in the mind is best described as disturbing. This reaction is because what the farmed animals endue is horrific and many humans naturally have empathy for them. The way to address this response is to not direct your thoughts towards the go to topics: nutrients, taste and other so-called justifications... but to surrender to the inner sensation that is telling you loudly it is wrong. When eating meat or dairy products, and even in silent moments, like before going to sleep - this truth can eat away at you.

 

Words from every angle often can't encourage people to change for the

animals. However, experiencing a slaughterhouse first hand, or watching

footage that shows: what happens in an abattoir and animal abuse in the

animal agriculture, is not an approach most people are drawn to use when

deciding what to choice to make. The Animal Union has watched hours of

footage and can't stress enough how we must make choices to protect 

them from this industry. 

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With more six month plus old bulls needing rescue with this inititive to

clean up the dairy's reputation of killing newborn male bobby calves, it is

important for The Animal Union to assist in setting the precedent around 

rescuing bulls of this age group. That they are animals that can have

a calm temperament and live amongst each other in a herd, peacefully -

when the right steps are taken.

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Few extra little points to wrap things up...

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A program is being implemented at the farm used as an example above, where plants that cows and bulls like to eat will be planted. It is has been forgotten that they eat more than just grass. The Animal Union would like to follow suit when funds allow.

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All nutrients, taste and other arguments have been covered with veganism. From science, talented vegan/plant-based chefs and the rest is honestly covered by the vegan Jesus (joke) in his books. 

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You can help by donating to The Animal Union monthly, attending events near you (follow social media to stay in the loop), sharing this knowledge, thinking about reducing or removing dairy and meat from your diet, and watching documentaries about the dairy and meat industry. There are many free documentaries on Youtube, they can be accessed via our channel below. There are also short videos to watch - interviews, debates, cooking tips, comedy, TV ads, trailers for the docos, protests and much more.