Chilliwack Cattle Sales milk pick-up suspended over video

The B.C. Milk Marketing Board has suspended milk pick-up from Chilliwack Cattle Sales after disturbing undercover video surfaced Monday showing workers physically abusing cows.

B.C. Milk Marketing Board wants proof animal welfare issues are being addressed

Mike Clarke CBC News Posted: Jun 13, 2014 11:50 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 14, 2014

Animal cruelty charges have been laid against Chilliwack Cattle Sales and seven employees following the release of video shot inside the operation by a former employee. (Mercy For Animals Canada)

The B.C. Milk Marketing Board has suspended milk pick-up from ChilliwackCattle Sales after disturbingundercover video surfaced Monday showing workers physically abusing cows.

WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: Watch the undercover video

The operation, which describes itself as Canada's largest dairy farm, subsequently announced it was firing the eight employees involved.

The undercover videofrom the non-profit groupMercy for Animals Canada shot by an activist posing as an employee of the farm showed dairy cows being whipped and beaten withchains andcanes, as well as punched andkicked.

It showed cowssuffering from open wounds and injuries, andbeinglifted by their neckswith chains and tractors.

In a statement, the B.C. Milk Marketing Board says it remains deeply concerned about the abuse shown on the video.

"Based on the board's concern for the ethical treatment of animals, the board made the decision today to suspend milk pick-up from Chilliwack Cattle Sales, until it is satisfied that all of the animal welfare issues are being addressed appropriately," it said.

"The board has requested advice from veterinarians with respect to animal welfare and the Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle."

Mercy for Animals said earlier the company failed to provide adequate training or respond to the concerns raised by its undercover member before the video's release. It rejected claims by farm co-owner Jeff Kooyman that none of the owners knew about the abuse.

B.C. SPCA enforcement officer Marcie Moriarty saidChilliwackCattle Sales has so far been cooperating with its investigation. The B.C. SPCA is recommending charges of animal cruelty against the eight employees.

The company supplies brands including Saputo and Dairyland.

Kooyman says his farm haszero tolerance for animal abuse and promised it would be installing cameras in the barns and retraining staff.

In 2008, Chilliwack Cattle Sales was cleared of charges relating to the transport of injured cows.