Vegetarian farmer donates his entire herd of cows to animal sanctuary because he can’t bear to kill them
Posted by David Reynolds | June 14th, 2017A vegetarian farmer has donated his entire herd of cows to an animal sanctuary because he can’t bear to kill them.
Jay Wilde, who runs Bradley Nook Farm in Derbyshire, sent his cattle to live out their lives in a Norfolk field.
The 59-year-old took over the farm when his father died in 2011.
Mr Wilde, who has been a vegetarian for 25 years, said: ‘It was very difficult to do your best to look after them and then send them to the slaughterhouse for what must be a terrifying death,’ according to The Times.
He added: ‘Cows have good memories and a range of emotions. They form relationships.
‘I’ve even seen them cry.’
A total of 59 cows have been sent to the Hillside Animal Sanctuary near Norwich.
Mr Wilde also kept ten of the animals as ‘pets’.
According to their website, Hillside Animal Sanctuary was founded in 1995 to help and campaign for animals in need.
Hillside has given sanctuary to around 1,900 horses, donkeys and other animals in the farming industry.