Friends on the Farm
NEWSLETTER
Winter 2016
VOL3, ISSUE 4
Reika the pony required 3 days of anti-inflammatories for
a sore rear leg
We said goodbye to Margie the broiler hen who was put
to sleep after several attempts of treating a very nasty leg
infection, goodbye dear Margie. Xxx
We began collecting a weekly amount of scrap bread from
the Helping Hand organization to feed our growing pig
family. Much appreciation goes to Big Ears Sanctuary for
the helpful referral and to Graham at Helping Hand.
A drizzly morning on the farm
Welcome to an extremely rainy winter edition when
many areas of the state flooded overnight with
unprecedented levels of rainfall received in early June.
This season has been the wettest for a long time. In all
years of living here, we have never known such high
rainfall causing widespread damage to homes and
properties including thousands of native animals, birds
and farmed animals that lost their homes and lives to the
devastating floods. Thankfully our place is not prone to
flooding. I dedicate this issue to the countless animal
lives lost, the true victims of the 2016 Tasmanian floods.
In this edition –
Sale yard findings & report – Page 2
Winter updates – Page 3
“many areas of the state flooded overnight
with unprecedented levels of rainfall”
This season –
Peter the broiler Rooster required medication for a facial
infection
Cindy the baby broiler chick required medical care for an
injured wing
One rabbit yard became close to flooding and the rabbits
were moved to higher ground
Dotti the pig required ongoing anti-inflammatories for an
injured leg
Ready for the night! Broiler girls keeping
dry during winter
“Compassion is the fabric of the Universe” – Greg Braden
Ref 1. Underweight
cows
Sale yard findings & report
We have started to visit local sale yards to document
the conditions of animals taken to market and during
winter when feed is low, it was a good time to start.
Our first findings were of concerning neglect to a
number of sheep and cows involving significantly
emaciated and malnourished heifers with calf at foot,
emaciated weathers, including non-treatment of
injuries to animals. The findings are as follows –
August 2016 – A pen of 6 Black Angus cattle were
documented to be severely underweight (photo Ref.1)
A pen of 5 young whethers was documented to be
severely underweight (photo Ref.2)
One male sheep was documented to be suffering from
a massive testicular tumor which prevented him from
walking properly (photo Ref.3)
Ref 2. Underweight
sheep
3 cows were documented to have sustained recent
injuries to ear, hind quarters and rump, with no
obvious signs of treatment (photo Ref.4)
Ref.4 Injury reveals bone on
this cows ear
Ref. 1 Emaciated and
malnourished cows
Ref.3 Male sheep with
advanced testicular tumor
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Winter Updates
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Due to the heavy rainfall over the majority of
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wintertime, we kept very busy just tackling the effects
of rain and the waterlogged grounds. Mud was
becoming a real problem in some of the yards.
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Recycled timber pallets were used and placed in the
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poultry yards to allow dry areas for animals to stand;
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this also provided a lot of relief when it came to feed
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time.
Approximately 50 bales of hay were eaten up just
before the beginning of wintertime when our cows
pushed through a gate and helped themselves into the
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hay shed! Therefore we had to take a strict and
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conservative approach when it came to feeding out,
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once daily for cows; luckily we made it through winter
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with just enough hay for all the animals.
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Our elderly ewes; Bunny, Mary and Lambi required
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extra nutrient feeds daily to keep their energy levels up
in the nasty weather. Luckily we had access to another
section of paddock next door and we were able to
Saying hi to the animals!
rotate the sheep, goats and horses all through winter
onto new feed.
A new rabbit shelter was quickly made during the
extreme rainfall when their old shelter became near
flooded out. It was the fastest shelter we have knocked
up and the rabbits are now elevated from mushy
ground.
We had a visit from a friend and her 2 children and
they loved meeting all the animals even if they got a
bit muddy!
The cows at feed time in their
shed
“I think I could turn and live with the animals, they are so placid and self-contained, I
stand and look at them long and long” – Walt Whitman
like
e box or..
Winter 2016
Our Mission
Friends on the Farm is a small sanctuary providing a loving home to neglected, unwanted
farmed animals and in many cases treating animals with long-term ailments suffered from
intensive farming systems of abuse. We also promote the benefits of a healthy plant-based diet,
one that is kinder on the earth, the animals and us!
VOL 3, Issue 4
“where all animals are our friends”
www.friendsonthefarm.com