Cattle tied up in the barn: Animal rights activists report a farmer – “Particularly painful form of husbandry”
Created: 2022-12-09 04:50
By: Tobias Gehre
Cattle are tied up in a stable.
This form of husbandry has been criticized for a long time.
Many small farms can hardly afford to invest in a larger barn with a different attitude.
(symbol image) © dpa
The animal protection organization PETA reported a farmer in the district.
Reason: The farmer keeps his cattle in the so-called tethering system.
The farmers' association sees the ad primarily as a PR campaign by animal rights activists.
District of Fürstenfeldbruck – The animal protection organization relies on a judgment of the Münster Administrative Court in its complaint.
In February, this assessed the tethering as a violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
"Years-long calls for the abolition of this particularly painful form of husbandry are thus once again confirmed," says PETA.
In total, criminal charges were filed against 26 cattle farms in southern Germany - 19 of which are in Bavaria and 7 in Baden-Württemberg.
“The permanent tethering of cattle must finally be relegated to the history books.
This medieval husbandry system is physical and mental torture," says Scarlett Treml, PETA Germany's specialist for animals in the agricultural industry.
(
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular
FFB newsletter.)
Peta ad: just a business model?
As expected, the actions of the animal rights activists are not well received by the farmers in the district.
Farmer's chairman Matthias Heitmayr from Dünzelbach describes the ad primarily as a PR campaign.
"I assume that's a business model to keep in touch and get donations."
Heitmayr does not want to sugarcoat the tethering.
However, he points out the many challenges involved in switching to a different form of husbandry – such as a playpen.
This requires high investments.
Smaller companies in particular would not be able to cope with this.
In addition, with the uncertain price development, the risk is too high for many.
Peta display and backgrounds
The fact that tethering is still widespread, especially in Bavaria, is due to the small-scale structure of agriculture in Bavaria.
While the agricultural industry is in charge in many places in the north of the republic, there are still many family businesses in Bavaria - and also in the district.
They also ensured that the cultural landscape was preserved.
Nevertheless, no reason for Matthias Heitmayr to defend the tethering.
This is no longer up to date.
Society doesn't want that anymore.
However, people would then have to show their appreciation for regional food - and be willing to pay for animal welfare if in doubt.
also read
Tax office warns: These are the most common mistakes when submitting property tax returns
Cost shock after vet treatment: Price five times higher than expected
The Federal Chamber of Veterinarians also called for the tethering to be abolished
Incidentally, the Federal Chamber of Veterinarians also demanded that cattle should no longer be tied up in the barn - back in 2015. At the time, the Chamber got into massive trouble with the Hessian Farmers' Association.
The fact is: this form of husbandry is still not banned to this day.
Matthias Heitmayr also points this out.
However, according to the will of the federal government, this should change.
In ten years at the latest, cattle should no longer be allowed to be permanently tied in the barn.
You can find more current news from the district of Fürstenfeldbruck at Merkur.de/Fürstenfeldbruck.