It’s a disaster that speaks volumes for the North American breeding model. Following a fire at a dairy farm in Dimmitt, Texas (USA), approximately 18,000 cows died and an employee was seriously injured. The extent and effects of the event, which took place on the evening of Monday, April 10, were confirmed on Thursday, April 13. Commissioner of Agriculture press release Sid Miller of Texas State points this out “Worst Farm Fire in Texas History”.
“The origin of the fire is under investigation and we want to know what caused it. said the commissioner. There will be lessons to be learned, and the impacts this fire will have on the region and industry. » According to Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera, in an interview with US channel CBS, there may have been a manure disposal system. “overheated”and methane in the building “Ignite, then explode and spread with fire”.
The employee, who was trapped in the building that evening, was rescued by firefighters dispatched to the scene and airlifted to hospital, where he remained in intensive care over the weekend. While the exact number of cattle killed is not known at this point, the sheriff said the balance sheet would be around 18,000 cattle. “Some have survived, he told News Channel 10, But they may be hurt, and they must be put down. »
“A Tragedy”
It is surprising that a single dairy farm in France has 18,000 cattle, the sector is based on a family model, with an average of 66 cows per dairy farm, and some large farms with 400 to 650 cows. Even by North American standards, this is a substantial herd. “In the United States, there are three levels of classification of factory farms according to the number of animalsJulia Johnson, director of the American Compassionate Food Division of World Agriculture explains. Farms are classified as large from 700 dairy cows, but we know that farms with more than 10,000 dairy cows are not uncommon, and mega-dairies are harmful not only to the environment and human health, but also to well-being. Animals: In such an environment it is not possible to provide protection to every animal. »
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