Mower County farmer cited after 22 dairy cows found dead
Published 10:37 am Monday, March 17, 2014
RACINE — Mower County authorities said 22 dairy cows have been found dead in a barn of apparent starvation, and a farmer has been cited.
Mower County Attorney Kristen Nelsen said the animals were found in February, but the citation wasn’t issued until last week because of “extenuating circumstances” involving the owners.
Sheriff Terese Amazi said the 52-year-old man and his 75-year-old father were in a serious car crash recently. Both were too injured to care for the cows, but Amazi said the man was cited because he didn’t try to seek help for them.
Two cows that survived have been permanently placed at another farm.
Amazi says authorities first received a tip about the animals during a blizzard on Feb. 20 but deputies couldn’t immediately get to the farm to check it out.