Three former dairy workers with Idaho's largest dairy operation have been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after undercover video shot by an animal rights group showed workers stomping, dragging and beating cows inside a milking barn. The video was shot using a hidden camera by a member of the animal rights group Mercy for Animals inside Bettencourt Dairies' Dry Creek Dairy in Hansen.

Click here to read what a panel of animal care specialists said about this video.

Dairy owner Luis Bettencourt says he's sickened by the video and has fired the workers involved. He's since hired an additional supervisor and installed cameras in his milking barns.

Bettencourt’s dairy operation is the largest in Idaho, with 13 facilities and about 60,000 milk cows.

Nathan Runkle with Mercy for Animals says the group hopes Kraft Foods will quit using milk from Bettencourt Dairies.

Response from United Dairymen of Idaho
The United Dairymen of Idaho released a statement about this video on Oct. 10:

"The actions depicted on the Mercy for Animals video are appalling and completely unacceptable. Dairy farmers in Idaho are as outraged by this video as the public. This incident does not reflect the animal care practices of the hundreds of hard working Idaho dairy farm families across our state who care for their animals every day.

"Idaho's dairy industry takes any claim about animal mistreatment very seriously. Any evidence of animal abuse should be taken to the appropriate state and local authorities who are empowered to investigate those claims. We fully support and endorse the Idaho State Department of Agriculture's ongoing investigation and stand ready to assist.

"Many farms across the country have adopted the National Dairy FARM animal care program. FARM is designed to promote the best practices in animal care that the public has come to expect from the dairy sector.

"Idaho’s 571 dairy farm families depend on healthy cows for their livelihoods. They work hard every day caring for their herds by providing a nutritious diet, good medical care and healthy living conditions. Dairy cows must be healthy and well cared-for in order to produce pure, wholesome milk."

What you can do
If you're considering talking with concerned consumers about this video through social media or in person, consider the following talking points provided by the MyDairy program:

As a reminder, customize and personalize these messages to illustrate your dedication to your animals.

1. The actions depicted in the video are appalling and completely unacceptable. That said, the situation was swiftly and decisively addressed in August by local law enforcement and the farm owners. The following steps have been taken:

• The five individuals in the video were immediately terminated. Three of the perpetrators of abuse have been arrested.
• The farm owners required all employees to sign the policy that dictates zero tolerance for animal abuse as a condition of employment.
• The farm has enhanced its employee oversight via video monitoring, on-site security and signage.

2. I want to reassure you that this incident does not reflect the animal care practices of the thousands of farm families across the U.S. who care for their animals every day.

3. As a dairy farmer, I find the actions depicted in the video appalling and completely unacceptable. On our dairy farm, taking good care of our cows is our #1 priority!

4. My dairy farm, and the entire dairy industry, is committed to taking great care of our cows. On a national level, many farms have adopted the National Dairy FARM program’s care guidelines, ensuring farms follow the best practices in animal care.

5. Dairy cows must be well cared-for in order to produce the pure, wholesome milk that you feed your family.

6. The majority of U.S. dairy farms are family owned and operated, sometimes by multiple generations. My family has XX generations of dairy farmers, it’s a heritage we’re proud of! PD

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—From the Associated Press ( Click here to read the full article.), United Dairymen of Idaho, Dairy Management Inc. (MyDairy)