Dylan - A Dairy Calf
Animal Stories from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary
April 2011

[Ed. Note: Please give up dairy products! Dairy purchases support and increase the horrifically brutal veal industry. Visit our section on Veal Production including Is It The Result Of Kidnapping And Murder? Dylan has been rescued from all of that!]

As a male he had no future at the dairy farm, and as a Holstein (dairy) breed he had no future to become beef. His destiny instead was to become veal.

In late August 2005 we got a call from some people concerned about the treatment of just-born calves at a neighboring dairy farm in Hoosick Falls, New York. As is the norm in the industry, adult milkers are kept almost continuously pregnant to maximize production. This little newborn was separated from his mother after 48 hours.

As a male he had no future at the dairy farm, and as a Holstein (dairy) breed he had no future to become beef. His destiny instead was to become veal. He was found tied to a post, laying in his own feces, a day away from being auctioned off. The couple wanted to make a difference in at least one life, so they talked the farmer into giving him up.


Dylan's arrival at the sanctuary - safe for life!
Photo by Derek Goodwin

At the ripe age of one week when he arrived, Dylan seemed so frightened and alone, volunteer Dawn Ladd camped out overnight in the pen with him. Now accustomed to his new home, Dylan could not be more of a trouble-maker! He follows us around into the house and fearlessly sniffs at animals 10 times his weight. He’s also a great ambassador for the millions of male dairy calves who are not so lucky.

In August 2006 he celebrated his first birthday about 800 pounds heavier. As an adult he might reach 3000 pounds, all from eating nothing but grass & hay! That should give meat-eaters who claim they can’t get enough protein from vegetables something to think about!


For Dylan’s first birthday animal caregiver Robin Henderson made a “cake” — fruit in a bread shell with a carrot candle.
Photo by Derek Goodwin


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