Dairy cows seized at Stearns County farm

Star Tribune

Last update: October 27, 2009 - 8:42 PM

Forty-seven dairy cows that had been living in "deplorable conditions" have been seized from a farm in Stearns County, authorities said.

The cows were removed Monday from the farm east of Sauk Centre, the Stearns County Sheriff's Office said. The animals are now quarantined on another farm nearby and will be sold once they are healthy.

According to the sheriff's office, some of the cows were standing in manure several feet deep and eating in areas where feed was mixed with manure and urine.

"Conditions had reached a point where the milk inspector had recently stopped the sale of milk on [the] farm," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

"These animals just got to be too much for [the owner], and he couldn't handle it anymore," said Deputy Tim Kantos. "He was alone and couldn't take care of the animals any longer. This is something that had to be done for the welfare of the cows."

PAUL WALSH

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