Inside Mendes Calf Ranch

East Bay Animal Advocates documented conditions at Mendes Calf Ranch in Tipton, California (Tulare County). Online at InsideDairyProduction.com.

Calf ranches are a growing feature of dairy production. Mendes is one of six large-scale calf ranches in Tulare County. Separated from their mothers, day-old calves are transported to Mendes Calf Ranch. Arriving at the ranch, calves are confined to undersized, unsanitary wooden hutches for 65 to 70 days. Mendes confines 6,750 calves at any given time. Calf ranch crates are similar to veal crates.

Thereafter, female calves are moved to pens before they are transported back to the respective dairy facilities for milking. The calves are 140 days old when they are returned to the dairies. Mendes typically holds approximately 12,000 calves on its property. Tulare County is the largest dairy producing county in the USA.

In June 2006, Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the calf ranch. Learn more online at ALDF.org.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• dairy
• cow
• milk
• animal
• cruelty
• California