A 2002 Farm Sanctuary investigation of Wisconsin veal farms revealed grossly inhumane conditions. Calves were chained by their necks in crates, standing on hard slatted floors, unable to turn around or even lie down comfortably. Covered with feces, the calves’ skin was raw and irritated, and in some cases, afflicted with open sores.

Upon learning of Farm Sanctuary’s video footage, a Brown county veal producer called the sheriff’s department and had videotape showing conditions at his farm destroyed. Farm Sanctuary’s president, Gene Bauston, responded, “This shows just how much the veal industry has to hide. Veal production methods, which include confining calves in crates and feeding them a deficient diet that causes anemia, are repugnant to the vast majority of American citizens. These practices are so cruel that they have been banned in Europe, and they should be outlawed in the U.S. as well.”

Despite the veal industry’s attempt to conceal its practices, some pictures and videotape of veal farming in Wisconsin survived. These materials are available upon request from Farm Sanctuary and show calves chained in filthy crates and covered with feces. Veterinarian, Dr. Holly Cheever, viewed the videotape and stated, “...there is nothing in the video footage that indicates a healthy or humane environment. Comfort is nonexistent. The calves are held in chutes too narrow and short to permit the animals to assume comfortable postures in lying down... Hygiene is very poor; manure is splattered throughout the barn, under the animals’ hindquarters so that they must lie down in it... The majority are caked with manure... In some individuals, the manure “scald” has resulted in abrasions and dermatitis (skin infection) due to the inevitable breakdown of skin homeostatic mechanisms when chronically plastered with stool...” (Click here to see additional comments from Dr. Cheever.)

These are photos of veal calves in Wisconsin.