The American Association of Bovine Practitioners condemns willful acts of animal abuse such as those videotaped on the calf ranch in Hart, Texas. The AABP represents 5,000 beef and dairy cattle veterinarians from the United States, Canada and numerous other countries distributed around the world. Humane care and handling of all animals is a key commitment made by the veterinary profession. Veterinarians have an ethical obligation to treat animals humanely.

The images presented in this video are extremely disturbing and represent a total breakdown in the animal care systems present at this calf ranch. The perpetrators of willful animal abuse should be prosecuted and procedures put in place to prevent future instances of abuse, if this farm is to be allowed to continue to raise animals.

Animals deserve timely and effective treatment for diseases and conditions. In the event that a disease or condition results in the need for an animal’s euthanasia, there are guidelines available for humane euthanasia (http://www.aabp.org/resources/euth.pdf).

Any person witnessing willful acts of animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect, such as those portrayed in this video bears responsibility for immediately contacting local authorities in lieu of continued observation or video-recording for other ulterior motivations.

Animal Care programs are available to all cattle owners to provide structured on-farm training and animal welfare assessments. The veterinary profession strongly promotes humane care and handling practices for all livestock, and the abuse seen in this situation cannot be tolerated. PD

—From American Association of Bovine Practitioners news release