Flor is not the only cow being offered for sale at the market in Torrelavega in northwestern Spain this morning. We see around 30 ‘dairy’ cows walking with their legs wide apart to avoid bumping into their full, heavy udders and causing themselves further pain.
The farmers bring the animals to market with full udders to convince potential buyers of the animals' milk and udder performance. The teats are glued shut so that the milk cannot run out. One farmer has used clothes pegs to stop the milk flow, which he quickly removes when he sees us. The pain is clearly visible on Flor's face; her gaze is inward, her jaw is tense, her ears are pinned back, and she stands with her hind legs splayed. The glue in her teats is clearly visible. But the fact that the animals are obviously in great pain seems to be of no consequence.
Animals' Angels has been denouncing the practice of gluing teats at markets and auctions for years - including in Germany, but only a few breeding associations and market operators have banned this cruel sales practice. In Torrelavega, a large sign hangs in response to our numerous complaints, stating that sealing the udders is prohibited and that the animals must be milked at least every 12 hours, as required by law. But the sign seems to be nothing more than decoration - even the veterinarians who carry out the entry checks turn a blind eye.
We will not give up and will file another complaint with the central veterinary authority.
