Animal Activists Target Dairy Farmers, Claiming Farms Mistreat Young Calves

Local dairy farmers say they’re under attack by animal rights activists and have been warned of planned protesters. “We’ve been told that they are planning something or that they could be planning something, so to be vigilant,” said Hank Van Exel of Lodi. Van Exel is a third-generation dairyman, his cows are his life.“That’s my deal. I love cattle,” he said.But over the years he’s been harassed, terrorized, and even threatened. One major reason Exel has been called these names is based on how animal rights activists believe these calves are being treated. The activists have called the cages the calves live in veal huts. “It’s just a lack of education,” Exel added. Hank says that’s the trouble, many of these activists are unaware, keeping these cows alive and happy is what’s best for them and California.“If you take care of them, then they will take care of us. That’s the model we try to live by,” he said.