THE FARM REFERENCED IN THIS STORY IS BRUSH BROOK COMMUNITY FARM IN HUNTINGTON, VERMONT
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE ANIMALS BE PROVIDED SHADE AND SHELTER FROM THE ELEMENTS IDEALLY WITHIN THE WOODS’ EDGE, PLEASE RESPECTFULLY EMAIL THE FARMER, ADAM, AT: RUNNINGSTONEBREAD@GMAIL.COM
ALSO EMAIL THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER, PAM ALEXANDER AT: ALEXP3943@HOTMAIL.COM
AND COPY THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR AT:
TOWNHUNT@GMAVT.NET
THE TOWN CANNOT ACT UNLESS PEOPLE CONTACT THEM DIRECTLY.

THE STORY

Part of our role as a farm, sanctuary, and wildlife preserve unavoidably involves concern for the animals in our immediate vicinity, and in this case, the flock of 15+ sheep and 4+ cows living next door to us whom we pass whenever we leave the farm . We cannot ignore their well-being any more than we could ignore the wellbeing of a child or fellow human being in distress.

THE PURPOSE

The purpose of this post is to inform and invite people to request that Brush Brook Community Farm provide access to shade and NATURAL shelter for the animals in their care as an expression of the compassion and best humane practices we wish to represent our community.
“If our intention centers around gratitude and giving, then how can we justify participating in the suffering of others for personal pleasure or gain?”

why we became concerned

On July 29, 2019, the hottest day of the summer (91 degrees), Shawn drove past the sheep in our neighbor’s field—stewarded by Adam at Brush Brook Community Farm— on her way to town around 10 am. They were in their paddock on grass surrounded by a short electric netting fence, with no opportunity to seek shade. When she drove back at 3 pm, they were in the same paddock in the muggy heat of the day, and she also noticed that they also didn’t have any water. As a result of discovering this, we made phone calls looking for the farmer’s contact information, knocked on doors to find him, emailed him and other neighbors who might have known how to contact him—to no avail. Not entirely knowing what to do and very concerned that the sheep might be in danger, we called friends who run a heritage sheep farm (and who are Animal Welfare Association Certified) to seek their advice about heat distress in sheep, and if there was cause for concern. We’ll share what they said in a little bit.

10 am, bright sun, no water. Temperatures in the 80s initially (climbing to 90 later), damp grass from previous night’s rain.

On the same hot day, cows with minimal shade managed by the same farmer. Fence is blocking access to more shade. The existing shade is on a fairly steep slope.

We decided to at least take water down to them immediately, and upon seeing them panting rapidly we were quite concerned that some of the sheep were in distress, particularly the darker, older one. There was shade at the adjacent paddock edge, and having not heard from the owner, and spoken again to our sheep farming friends, we decided to err on the side of caution and risk ‘overstepping’ our role for the sake of the sheep, and we moved the mobile electric fence (which we have daily experience with on our own farm) to enable the sheep to get relief—given that they had been in the full sun with no water all day. It was one of those moments when we didn’t fully know if what we were seeing was the equivalent of a dog in a car with the windows rolled up…and now was the time to break a window. One of the darker sheep appeared to be struggling the most and we were the most concerned about her. I’ve cared for sheep in the past at a farm in California, so had some familiarity with them.

Shawn stayed with the sheep to watch for predators until we were able to find the farmer…who showed up soon after we moved the fence. He was understandably upset that we moved the fence, but thankful for the water. We apologized for any inconvenience to him and offered to help move the fence back…expressing our intention for the sheep’s welfare first and foremost. He admitted that he actually remembered that he had forgotten the water when he was driving to Burlington, which is a 35 minute drive away. But consoled himself that since it had rained the night before, the sheep were not in danger as they could obtain water from the rain-soaked grass. He was delayed in his return, and thus the sheep went without water in the day’s heat, and apparently hadn’t had water since they were moved the evening before. Almost 24 hours.

(Why didn’t the farmer turn his car around and return to provide water to the sheep? Why didn’t he call someone to give them water on such a hot and humid day? We pondered.)

We made peace with the farmer who said he had intended to move the sheep to that paddock anyway. Everyone makes mistakes, right? But learning and witnessing more, we came to see that this wasn’t simply a mistake, but rather an expression of a chronic pattern that needs to be addressed. We later learned that someone had filed a complaint the year before when the animals were left outside in bitter, cold, windy and wet conditions the previous November.

The larger issue in our opinion

As the farmer explained to us first-hand, we believe his attitude toward animal welfare is suspect at best, and perverse at worst.

His core view is that ‘no being is entitled to be without suffering’’….and ‘the pusuit of comfort accounts for the large percentage of our current cultural ills’. Therefore, he denies the simple needs of his animals, ‘asking them to work in the summer heat like humans in their care’ denying them shade from the summer heat, and also shelter from cold, bitter and inclement winter weather. He doesn’t believe in relieving the suffering of animals in weather extremes. A complaint was filed against him in 2018 for leaving his sheep out in a blizzard with no shelter. By the time the sherrif’s department investigated, he had moved them to a greenhouse.

While this farmer and others may attempt to characterize our reaction as ‘without understanding’ or simply coming from an uninformed ‘animal activist’ perspective , we actually have daily farming and livestock experience, and spoke to experts in the field to FIRST learn of best practices BEFORE responding to the situation.

How the neighbors responded

The next day, we received an email from the neighbors who own the land where the sheep graze. Now, these are neighbors with whom we’ve been on friendly terms, and who had enjoyed 8 years of access to our land for biking, skiing, and dog-walking.

Thank you for noticing that the sheep were without water. As Adam explained to you, this was the first time ever and he was on his way over to remedy the situation.
In terms of your concerns about shade, Adam explained to you his management practices, and as the landowners, we are 100% behind him and his animal management philosophy.
You crossed a boundary when you chose to open up the electric fence and move the sheep. We expect that this will never happen again and if it does, we will file a complaint with the police.

So despite leaving phone messages in search of a remedy, sending emails, and resolving the situation with the farmer, and consulting with expert sheep farmers during our work day, and spending hours of our time to help address someone else’s mistake, this is how our neighbors responded. “How does that express ‘community’ in a community farm context where we’re all looking out for each other?”, we wondered. Why is the focus not first and foremost on the health of the animals, and on a modicum of contrition for the time we spent out of our work day to lend a hand? We should note that we saw numerous instances of the animals without water—and even called the local animal control officer when we saw that the water for a cow and two calves (standing in full sun) was left on the other side of the fence from where they stood! So this wasn’t a one-time oversight with regard to water. We later spoke with a retired veterinarian who is now an animal investigator, and she said that her reading of the ‘distress level’ in a video we took of the sheep panting was a 7 out of 10—that it’s normal for them to pant. She expressed more concern for the cows she saw without shade as well. And her primary concern was the low level of water in all the blue tubs. She emphasized repeatedly that more water needs to be supplied. She also emphasized that animals should always have access to shade in the summer.

The sheep went right for the shade after we moved them at around 3:30. This photo was taken around 4 pm. Later in the day, the trees cast usable shadow.

Now, these sheep seem very healthy, and the farmer is very well-intentioned. He slaughters the lambs in the late fall and gives their meat to community members as a ‘gift’. However, it is apparent not only to us, but to every standard of animal welfare and best practices that’s it’s proper to provide, at minimum, access to shade, plenty of water, food (obviously) and in the case of sheep, minerals (to help both with heat stress and parasite resistance). The sheep rarely are provided shade. And shade is rarely provided to the cows in his care either.

the claims & justifications

The farmer’s side of the story is this: shade structures or areas promote parasites because the animals tend to congregate there and defecate, so he only places a mobile shade tent out on days with a higher heat-humidity index. As we know, this may be true for permanent structures , but it’s not true for mobile flocks who move to a new paddock every day—which is the nature of his system. There is also ample shade into the woods and hedgerow edges, but according to the farmer’s statement to the investigating police officer the previous year (yes, another person filed a complaint the previous year which we didn’t know about) "there’s barbed wire in the woods, ” inferring that it’s too much work to remove it (sheep can easily get caught in it). In our conversation with the farmer, he said that “no one is entitled not to suffer” and that “stress actually helped the sheep.” We all know that it’s harmful to wildlife to leave barbed wire fencing in the woods. The right thing to do would be to remove it, and extend the fencing into the woods to enable shade access in each paddock, so that the sheep could choose shade or sun as the day progressed. This is widely-agreed, common, best-practice, particularly in a context where the community is represented in the care of the animals.
A complaint and investigation in Winter of 2018 resulted in an exoneration of the farmer’s practices, therefore every aspect of his practices in all seasons has been condoned and approved.

the facts

According to our experienced sheep-farmer friends, heat stress in fact enhances the animals’ vulnerability to parasites, and they suggest offering shade when it’s 70-75 degrees or warmer. They said that they found that ACCESS TO SHADE INCREASES THE ANIMALS’ HEALTH SIGNIFICANTLY, and that the sheep transit between sun and shade according to their choice. They also proffered the opinion that this farmer doesn’t know what he’s doing…especially with his excuse for not providing shade when it is so easily accessed, his suggestion that stress improved their health, and using the presence of barbed wire as an excuse for not running fence into the woods. This is a fact that dumbfounded them: as every good farmer makes use of the shade at the edge of the woods for shelter. They said it’s work to set up, but the benefits to both farmer and animal are well worth it. It’s also a basic requirement of the Animal Welfare Association Standard. We noted in fact in this summer of 2020, that more permanent fencing was laid out that actually EXCLUDED the woods edges!
The underlying philosophy, “no one is entitled to be without suffering”, or another version: “the pursuit of comfort lies at the core of all our cultural ills, as the consequences of excess” may indeed be true when applied to autonomous beings like humans, capable of choice. But this philosophy doesn’t apply to animals in our care who are 100% dependent on us for their wellbeing and survival, and whom we confine with fencing and whom we prevent from seeking nearby shade or water, as animals would normally do in the wild. These are domesticated animals, and and such they are entirely our responsibility if we choose to breed them, and bring them into our care. It is a pernicious and hubristic logic to deliberately deny proper shelter to the animals in our care. It is even worse when we claim a righteous stance in doing so. It is an expression of human entitlement that lets us off the hook in expending time and effort on behalf our dependents.
The complaint filed in 2018 occurred in the cold, wet, and blowing weather of November when the sheep were kept without shelter from those conditions. When the investigator arrived to inspect the farm, the sheep had been moved to a greenhouse. This complaint had nothing to do with the hot, sunny conditions where the sheep and cows are kept in the summertime. Also, the law has changed now in 2020, requiring adequate natural or built shelter from the elements.

Many people turn a blind eye to this kind of issue…especially if the animals are going to be killed in a few months anyway (“they’re headed for freezer camp” as the Town’s own Animal Control Officer phrased it in the prior year’s police investigation). And especially if they are going to get a free meal. But how we treat the animals in our care expresses something about who we are as a community—not in terms of what we ‘get’, but in terms of what we collectively support and give. If our intention centers around gratitude and giving, then how can we justify participating in the suffering of others for personal pleasure or gain?

See the tree line with all the shade? Paddocks should be designed to enfold the tree line at the very least, ideally penetrating into the woods for 10-15 feet.

Full sun, 90-degree day, one smart calf escaped to the shade! Summer 2020

Piles of bloody skins after the slaughter. December, 2019.

“If you see something say something”

WHAT TO DO?

Note location of the animals (address). Take photographs and video, note the temperature and conditions, but take necessary safety precautions if on a traveled road and be mindful of trespass laws (this can be very difficult for some people to do, to stand by and witness animals suffering and not help, but documenting the conditions for experts to see is critical since by the time law enforcement officials arrive things could look very different.
Our own efforts to write the farmer, offer the help of re-configuring the paddocks to include natural shade and shelter in the woods’ edge (a sheep expert friend of ours and former Huntington resident offered to come out and help for free) have not received a reply, and there seems to be no interest in doing this work. The farmer is self-convinced he is doing the right thing. But you can at least offer to join with the farmer in helping to remove the barbed wire in the woods, both to protect wildlife, and to allow for shade access to the sheep. Ask that shade/shelter from the elements be provided to the sheep and cows.
Email the ACO, Pam Alexander: Phone: 802-922-5997 (cell) | 802-434-5359 (home)
Email: alexp3953@hotmail.com
If you get no response or an unsatisfactory response from the ACO, email the Selectboard via Barbara Elliot. Nothing will happen unless the Selectboard is notified. Email: townhunt@gmavt.net
If not getting timely and satisfactory response using #2 or #4, contact Williston State Trooper barracks - https://vsp.vermont.gov/stations/williston; they will encourage you to follow option #3 and you truly feel this is no longer a viable option you have to be persistent with them.

LINKS FOR LAWS & BEST PRACTICES

VERMONT LAW AS OF JULY 1, 2020
As of July 1 with Governor Scott’s signature, there is clarifying language in the existing statute to assist in the enforcement of the humane treatment of animals in our Vermont communities.

You can read the full statute here - https://trackbill.com/bill/vermont-house-bill-254-an-act-relating-to-adequate-shelter-for-livestock/1689865/

§ 351. DEFINITIONS (17) "Adequate water" means potable water that is either accessible to the animal at all times or is provided at suitable intervals for the species and in sufficient quantity for the health of the animal. In no event shall the interval when water is not provided exceed 24 hours. Snow or ice is not an adequate water source unless provided in accordance with livestock and poultry husbandry practices.

(23) "Adequate natural shelter" means a natural structure or formation, including a stand of trees that: (A) is a well-drained area of sufficient size to provide a windbreak and protection from exposure to prevailing winds, rain, hail, sleet, sun, and snow; and (B) provides enough space to accommodate at one time all livestock or animals maintained out-of-doors in the area.

§ 365. SHELTER OF ANIMALS (a) Adequate shelter. All livestock and animals that are to be predominantly maintained in an outdoor area shall be provided with adequate natural shelter or adequate constructed shelter to prevent direct exposure to the elements.

Some may argue that these requirements do not apply to rotationally grazed animals, but based on our year-long research into this, that is not true.

If there's question about a practice, we were told that law enforcement officers turn to experts for guidance, including animal investigators, practitioners, large animal veterinarians, etc.

We have written correspondence from an expert who participated in a previous complaint, indicating what her practices are for her sheep. She is a director of the VT Sheep and Goat Association, and was connected with the UVM Ag extension office. We have written communication from other experts, including the President of the VT Sheep and Goat Association, large animal vets - many of whom grew up on farms and continue to run livestock operations, former Huntington residents who raise sheep and have been awarded the 'Certified Animal Welfare' approval by A Greener World - https://agreenerworld.org/certifications/animal-welfare-approved/ , and other VT animal welfare investigators.

The general consensus is that sheep are hardy and can withstand extreme conditions, but when kept outdoors, designing their pasture areas to include access to natural or manmade shelter is not only humane, but from a quality perspective it results in healthier animals with greater parasite resistence because of the diminished stress, and healthier animals lead to healthier animal products. Cows are less hardy than sheep. Including bordering treelines within paddocks as inexpensive options for shelter will not increase parasite loads since animals are moved regularly.

Confined animals in our community are without the freedom to seek relief from extreme conditions as wild animals would be. We must speak on their behalf as responsible members of the Huntington community.

http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/animals-in-hot-conditions/caring-for-animals-during-extreme-heat http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/animal-welfare-for-livestock-producers

ANIMAL WELFARE CERTIFICATION STANDARDS https://agreenerworld.org/certifications/animal-welfare-approved/standards/sheep-standards/ “8.0.1 In climatic regions where their thermal comfort may be negatively impacted, sheep must have continuous access as required to housing or shelter that protects them from weather extremes, including high winds, sleet and heavy snows, and sun.”

HUMANE FARM ANIMAL CARE
http://certifiedhumane.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Std13.Sheep.1JB.pdf “E 10: Sheltering lambs on pasture When lambs are being reared on pasture (either with the ewe or artificially) they must all have either natural or artificial: 1. Shelter and 2. Shade. E 11: Winter shelter In winter, additional shelter or windbreaks must be provided for stock. “

WHERE WE’RE COMING FROM

Philosophically and metaphysically, the regard for other beings becomes a kind of sacred I-Thou relationship, vs an I-It relationship. We’re indeed raised in a culture that sees animals as ‘here for us’ to do with as we choose, to use, including breeding and raising them to kill or milk for food. Our culture is also waking up to the horror of factory farms that create a living hell for animals (as well as the workers who tend and slaughter them), and so many people seek the ‘greener pastures’ of grass-raised animals where animals are seemingly well cared-for during their short lives—at least relatively better than a factory farm, right? We might self-sooth with the notion that the animals are ‘loved’, or raised in a small, family farm setting, or that the grass is sequestering carbon in the soil (so we’re even helping the climate!), that we’re eschewing harmful conventional practices. Yet there is a lot further to go, greater gifts to be given. Love is expressed in action. So: Think about this from the perspective of the animal, and if you see something, please say something. And consider the nourishment of readily-affordable plants, fruits, nuts, grains, legumes and mushrooms instead.

email the farmer respectfully: runningstonebread@gmail.com

ALTERNATIVES?

The land on which these sheep graze follows the riparian corridor of Brush Brook, which wends its way through the village hamlet. Any good farmer could grow as much nutrition on 1/20th of this prime river bottom land, and plant productive trees, establish wildlife and pollinator habitat in between the trees, and still offer these ‘gifts’ to the people of the village…in addition to the larger communities of life—pollinators, birds, rodents, wildlife. Indeed intensively-grazed areas (that are otherwise suitable for a small patch of conservation tillage cropping and larger swaths of agroforestry systems) actually remove vital habitat for grassland birds, fawns, rodents and their many predators (bobcat, fox, coyote, weasel), in essence taking away the opportunity for these larger communities of life to take hold in our rapidly-changing and diminishing landscape. Indeed, farmed lands in Huntington are ever-more prone to corn cultivation for the nearby dairy farm (which involves the use conventional herbicides (atrazine) and fertilizers on our sensitive riparian lands), as well as hay lands mown several times per year, thus rendering it impossible to support bird or pollinator life.

Our Correspondence

Dear Adam,
Please forgive the intrusion…we wanted to quickly write you out of concern for your sheep residing out in the full sun with no opportunity for shade during these hot and humid days. The cow (yesterday, Sunday)as well, for that matter.I know this kind of thing can be touchy to hear from outside observer, but having cared for animals in both farming and sanctuary contexts, wanted to suggest putting them in an area where they could at the very least have access to shade, if at all possible. It’s a bit difficult to witness them out in full-sun-only paddocks on these hottest of days.
With love for the animals, and best to you,
Melissa and Shawn

UPDATE:

We checked the sheep at 3 to discover they had no water. Their water was in the adjacent pen. Shawn drove by at 10 am and returned at 3, so they were in full sun with no water for 5+ hours.

We just took water to them, and then opened up the electric fence to provide access to shade. Sorry—we likely screwed up your rotation…But they were in clear distress (we took video we can send you), We consulted experienced sheep farmers before taking action. Best practices call for shade/shelter in 70-75 degree weather and above. The sheep were hyperventilating, with the little ones seeking shade under the big ones!! They drank water and were happy to get onto new pasture…

We’re keeping an eye on them but need someone to come tend them ASAP. The electric fence is on, but we are sensitive to predator pressure. so are watching them since the fence along the tree line isn’t tight.

We tried knocking on all doors, calling, etc…

Whomever put the sheep in their pen this morning forgot the water…

Melissa and Shawn.

From the neighbors who own the land, after we had spoken with the farmer and resolved the issue:

Thank you for noticing that the sheep were without water. As Adam explained to you, this was the first time ever and he was on his way over to remedy the situation.
In terms of your concerns about shade, Adam explained to you his management practices, and as the landowners, we are 100% behind him and his animal management philosophy.
You crossed a boundary when you chose to open up the electric fence and move the sheep. We expect that this will never happen again and if it does, we will file a complaint with the police.

email the farmer respectfully: runningstonebread@gmail.com