Setting a shocking example...

[Scholsey]

odd question., I would have had to take responsibility obviously

But it didn’t and you got away with something that failed due to your neglect but you expect guy to hang for his?

 

[Lexion1000]

The thing I find most concerning here is these peoples opinion that it’s acceptable for them to come onto private property and take recording and store them for weeks.
My children are frequently with me on the farm. If this were my far my first issue was what they were doing obtaining images of my children without my consent!
There are issues raised In this video but they are tiny in comparison to this incredible breach of privacy.

Exactly. The video is evidence that breaking and entering took place and that illegal cctv was put up. Why does the article ignore this? In my mind it’s quite a serious crime. It’s almost as though it’s condoned if you do it to a farm.

Nonetheless the video isn’t exactly great for farming’s pr.

 

[Clive]

But it didn’t and you got away with something that failed due to your neglect but you expect guy to hang for his?

I’m not sure what you mean or what point you are trying to make ?

an employee of mine had an accident (6? Yrs ago now ?) no one was hurt, police and emergency services cleared it up, it was investigated by HSE etc and no blame found - I didn’t “get away” with anything ???

I’m also not a NFU office holder or any kind of paid industry representative

I'm not sure what on earth this has to do with allegations of animal cruelty other than to have some sort of cheap pop at me personally ?

 

[Wellytrack]

There are vulnerable people in care up and down the country getting treated worse right now. They understand swearing and shouting.

Let’s see the same commitment to Gonzo journalism applied evenly.

 

[essexpete]

I wonder if all the shock horror on here is largely from non stock farmers? Out of interest of course. I note the cows did not exactly scatter when approached by the staff.
It does not look good I grant but types with agenda to stop domestic animal use will undoubtedly find something to make a point. Personally I think the calf housing looking through re-mesh looks bad but perhaps it works?

 

[E_B]

A shocking example of journalism indeed.

 

[tepapa]

There could be cows enjoying the sun in a green field on a lovely spring afternoon. But if someone pointing a camera saying that they were being mistreated and forced to eat of the ground, with the right music, and some people would believe that the cows were being harmed.
Some people don't know any better and believe what they're told.

 

[MRT]

There could be cows enjoying the sun in a green field on a lovely spring afternoon. But if someone pointing a camera saying that they were being mistreated and forced to eat of the ground, with the right music, and some people would believe that the cows were being harmed.
Some people don't know any better and believe what they're told.

You have a point, I shared photos of my ewes awaiting ai a few years ago in a tight pen in a concrete floored shed. Friend of a friend comments about how sad it is, that they have to live like this! I replied yes they live like this year round eating concrete and they appolgised

 

[Princess Pooper]

Those cows are not regularly 'abused' they have a very small flight zone, which is actually the problem, they are very tame and are not scared of humans at all which is why they can't be arsed to move. I wonder how many of the commentators have tried moving a 700 kg cow? And then lost their rag because they're knackered been up since 5am, it's boiling hot and the flies are driving you mad and the bloody cows are also feeling the heat so don't want to do anything? Some of the methods tip over into the unacceptable, sure, such as the kicking, and the dead rotting calves mentioned, completely out of order, (unless it was a deadstock collection point with e.g. a pair of twins that had rotted inside the cow; if put there on a Friday they might not get picked up until a Monday). Shouting and swearing? Show me a livestock farmer who has never shouted or sworn at their stock. 'Sexual abuse' - that bit presumably edited out, but for example, if he's not sure if a heifer or cow is bulling my husband will just gently open the vulva to see if it is pinker than usual - shock horror - and of course if he is doing an AI or a washout.... any animal activist would class that as sexual abuse.

 

[Headless chicken]

Those cows are not regularly 'abused' they have a very small flight zone, which is actually the problem, they are very tame and are not scared of humans at all which is why they can't be arsed to move. I wonder how many of the commentators have tried moving a 700 kg cow? And then lost their rag because they're knackered been up since 5am, it's boiling hot and the flies are driving you mad and the bloody cows are also feeling the heat so don't want to do anything? Some of the methods tip over into the unacceptable, sure, such as the kicking, and the dead rotting calves mentioned, completely out of order, (unless it was a deadstock collection point with e.g. a pair of twins that had rotted inside the cow; if put there on a Friday they might not get picked up until a Monday). Shouting and swearing? Show me a livestock farmer who has never shouted or sworn at their stock. 'Sexual abuse' - that bit presumably edited out, but for example, if he's not sure if a heifer or cow is bulling my husband will just gently open the vulva to see if it is pinker than usual - shock horror - and of course if he is doing an AI or a washout.... any animal activist would class that as sexual abuse.

agreed Re dead stock collection. Ours are sods currently if you forget to ring the Friday ( easy done when busy calving as they’re only 9-5) then it’s Monday and being booked for either Tuesday or Wednesday sometimes.

 

[Hooby Farmer]

As a collective we can genuinely all say we do not condone any malpractice or abuse of animals regardless of circumstance. Instead of sitting round bashing what has happened how about a show of solidarity that farming standards in the UK is amongst the top in the world. We should be United in support not because he's part of the boys club but because it could have been any single one of our farms! Granted it is a PR nightmare but he has been targeted because of his profile. He will be bearing the brunt of his employees decisions. These people should be afraid of the repercussions of coming after us.

 

[Top Tip.]

Absolute non event if that is all they could find in two months of filming and heavily edited and doctored to boot I really feel sorry for the stockmen involved . Look at the cows for goodness sake if they were used to being mistreated they would show fear of the men handling them, there is none . These cows are a credit to the folk who are looking after them lets just look at the bigger picture here instead of being manipulated by these vegan hoodlums.

 

[Smith31]

Illegally attained can not be used for prosecution, other wise these nut jobs would be breaking into every dairy farm to try and find something wrong. CCTV will probably be installed on the farm to combat this video

With all due respect, please google bowood lamb abattoir, busby stoop, thirsk, hidden cameras resulted in the closure of the abattoir plus directors and employees being prosecuted

 

[Smith31]

And what do you do?

In all honesty I would resign, would put the interest of the nations farmers before personal interests. Guy has lost all credibility he can never stand up in a room from of media and vegans and defend animal welfare standards. I do feel sorry for guy.

I have personally been prosecuted, because one of our drivers collected cows from a farm,when they were unloaded at the abattoir one was deemed lame by the vet, went to court and the magistrates treated us with disgust.

 

[Scholsey]

In all honesty I would resign, would put the interest of the nations farmers before personal interests. Guy has lost all credibility he can never stand up in a room from of media and vegans and defend animal welfare standards. I do feel sorry for guy.

I have personally been prosecuted, because one of our drivers collected cows from a farm,when they were unloaded at the abattoir one was deemed lame by the vet, went to court and the magistrates treated us with disgust.

So as a haulier you were prosecuted for picking up a farmers lame cow and taking it to a abattoir?

 

[gone up the hill]

In all honesty I would resign, would put the interest of the nations farmers before personal interests. Guy has lost all credibility he can never stand up in a room from of media and vegans and defend animal welfare standards. I do feel sorry for guy.

I have personally been prosecuted, because one of our drivers collected cows from a farm,when they were unloaded at the abattoir one was deemed lame by the vet, went to court and the magistrates treated us with disgust.

So you say Guy should resign?

Well then by your on logic after you were convicted you should have sold your own business!..............................

Guy hasn't been found guilty of anything! all there is is a very edited video by animal right nutters that want to stop ANY form of livestock farming!

The Smiths run a massive farming and diversified business with several directors that all manage different parts of the business on a day to day basis, Guy runs the arable enterprise and not only that he is away most of the week on NFU business so if there is any blame to be had then it is with the director who runs the dairy unit on a day to day basis!

Very clear Smith31 that you despise the NFU/AHDB etc which is your right, however you should not let your personal feelings cloud your judgement on issues like this!

Perhaps before you condemn Guy and demand he resigns you get in touch with the animal right nutters who took this footage illegally and ask them if you can view the entire 2 months video to get the real picture of what is going on at this farm ( good or bad as the case may be! )

 

[ollie989898]

A lot of those cows looked super tame to me. I work with an entire herd that are like that. You won't get them to move fast at all, you nearly need a bit of water pipe in your hand before they even notice you. I tend to beat the stick on gates or metal etc to make noise which seems to work fine.

Wouldnt punch or kick a cow as reckon it would hurt me more, they are so solid.

Tap on the back with stick or fingers usually works.

My language far more musical on the odd time when someone is being utterly thick.

 

[gone up the hill]

So as a haulier you were prosecuted for picking up a farmers lame cow and taking it to a abattoir?

On the beef and price tracker thread the other day Smith31 stated that all animals should be killed at the nearest slaughterhouse to improve animal welfare conditions instead of being transported across the country...

 

[ollie989898]

How do folks feel about the alkathene, in some cases it must be nearly a health and safety requirement?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I would invest in a backing gate