Dairy Cow Death Toll to Surpass 30,000 in Texas, New Mexico Due to Winter Storm Goliath

[jpak]

Source: Weather.com

Dairy producers in Texas and New Mexico have estimated that the number of animals that died during the recent Winter Storm Goliath will climb to more than 30,000.

The winds are believed to be the cause for many of the animals’ deaths. It created drifts as high as 14 feet and pushed animals into fenced corners where they suffocated, according to The Associated Press.

"As Winter Storm Goliath wrapped up over the southern Plains, strong winds were associated with the storm's tightening pressure gradient," said weather.com meteorologist Quincy Vagell. "When combined with snow, the winds were strong enough to create dangerous blizzard conditions."


Executive director of the Texas Association of Dairymen Darren Turley said that an estimated 15,000 mature dairy cows died between Lubbock, Muleshoe and Friona, the primary impact area of the storm, AP also reports. This region includes the home of half the state’s top 10 milk-producing counties, which provide 40 percent of Texas’ milk.

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Read more: http://www.weather.com/news/news/dairy-cows-winter-storm-goliath-texas-new-mexico

[trillion]

1. .

[hlthe2b]

2. I hate animal suffering....

(and mandatory qualifier: NO, that is not an opening from militant vegetarians to unleash on raising food animals, so don't even start).

[chernabog]

10. Dairy cows probably suffer more than any

Other livestock. So do you consume dairy?

[UCmeNdc]

3. I bet those Farmers get some of that free government money

to help them resupply their herds.

[UCmeNdc]

4. yep! Free government money. Welfare!

Additionally, TAD is working with the Texas Governor’s Office, the Texas Department of Agriculture and other state and federal agencies to determine whether affected dairy farmers will receive financial assistance, according to the press release.

[Beartracks]

5. Argh, writing.

"This region includes the home of half the state’s top 10 milk-producing counties, which provide 40 percent of Texas’ milk."

What provides 40% of Texas' milk: 1) the Lubbock, Muleshoe and Friona region? 2) the 10 top milk-producing counties? Or 3) the 5 of the 10 counties that are in that region?

Not to mention, "includes the home of half of... 10" can be better stated as simply "includes 5."

Just sayin'.


P.S. That is awful news for the cows and the industry.

=======================

[pansypoo53219]

6. no barns in texass?

[Xipe Totec]

8. For 11.8 million head of cattle? No.

http://www.beefusa.org/beefindustrystatistics.aspx

[onecent]

9. EXACTLY!!!!!! Texans DON'T HAVE BARNS. Fat Bastards.

[TexasProgresive]

12. Normally not needed

Cows can graze in pastureland planted to winter wheat. At milking time they will que up to the milking parlor.

[kentauros]

21. I suspect there's not much of anything in "texass"

since I can't find it on any maps I own, or my globe.

However, considering that winters in west Texas don't get anywhere near as cold (or snowy) as say, Wisconsin or Michigan, barns aren't needed. As we all know of this winter so far, nothing is normal, for any region.

I do recommend a quick look at the plant-hardiness map of the US for an idea of the major differences in winter temperatures between northern states and southern states. And, as there are quite a few degrees of latitude difference, it does tend to make for colder (and snowier) conditions the further north you go.

[notadmblnd]

7. We have dairy cows here in michigan.

They're generally kept in barns Can you imagine rounding them up every day to milk them? they do have to be milked every day don't they?

[uncle ray]

11. twice a day.

i grew up on a farm in Minnesota, if the weather was bad, we'd keep the cows in rather than try to round them up in a blizzard. I would understand if it were beef cattle that were lost in the storm, they are put out to free range.

[Waiting for Someone]

15. How far are you from Isabella County?

Just curious.

[notadmblnd]

20. I'm in Oakland County

[beam me up scottie]

22. In Vermont most cows are only kept in barns during the winter.

We used to help our neighbors round up their cows but if you're a good farmer and milk on schedule the girls come in on their own.

[notadmblnd]

23. I can understand that. what I can't understand though

is why didn't the cows head to the barn when it was milking time?

[Proserpina]

13. 14 foot drifts....

Unreal. We don't even have a powder-sugar dusting in Michigan...until you get north of Lansing.

[MrScorpio]

14. Texas. in general, doesn't do well with any kind of snow nt

[Sunlei]

16. "mature". 10 factory farms bred cows for spring calf in fields /w not even hay rolls windbreak/food.

Those factory farms have thousands of cows each.

[a la izquierda]

17. Poor babies

[jwirr]

18. I don't understand. My father was a dairy farmer and we had

places in the barns for them in the winter. Also had sheds for beef cattle. What kind of set up did so many cattle die in. And yes I understand winter storms. What I do not understand is the lack of shelter.

[restorefreedom]

19. me either

every fucking year we hear about a high cow death toll in sd or somewhere becsuse of winter storms. they know its going to happen

the repayment from the government must be more than enough to cover their "losses." another reason we have to stop the incestuous relationship between government and big ag. they have no reason to protect these cows because big daddy govt will pay them off when the poor things die.

poor cows. this makes me sick



rip sweet babies

[chernabog]

24. Nice of your father to give them shelter

Before he killed them.

[Herman4747]

26. Poor Cows! nt

[Wellstone ruled]

27. Don't feel sorry for these Dairy Operations.

Texas receives the highest milk price subsidy in the industry. As far as Cattle loss,you could see this coming as the herd sizes increased. Dairy cows can withstand a certain amount of cold,appears what happened was the wet snow that caused them to suffocate by blocking their nostrils. Common thing with cattle on open range during the winter months. Nostrils become covered and if you don't catch it in time it becomes fatal. And if you have 3-4 thousand head in loose housing,you have issues and their aren't people to break the ice off these animals.

[apnu]

28. Hey red states! This is the cost of your climate change denial.

Thank you red states for that, you should piss off now.

[chernabog]

29. 14.5% of Global greenhouse gas emissions

are produced by livestock. So really, anyone who consumes meat/dairy are greatly contributing to climate change.

[apnu]

30. Oh its way beyond that.

Climate Change Deniers, especially in American politics, whom, for the most part, are Republicans from southern states. By their denial and inaction on the crisis, by their active action to protect and increase pollution are directly to blame for Goliath as far as I'm concerned.

Wild, destructive, weather is now the new normal for the rest of our lives. There is no going back right now. Even if all human beings quit what we're doing and live 100% carbon neutral, we've already done so much damage we won't live to see the day when weather patterns return to what they used to be.