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Cowboy Willie Nelson Stands Up For Cows

Posted Mar 26th 2008 2:04PM by TMZ Staff

Cowboy Willie Nelson stands up for cowsWillie Nelson thinks you should know a thing or two about some cows. The country crooner is joining in on a campaign along with the Animal Legal Defense Fund to raise awareness about cruel-and illegal-living conditions for calves raised to produce milk for dairy products. Moo! Boo!

Specifically, they are targeting Land O'Lakes and Challenge Dairy to get them to stop using milk from calves that come from California's Mendes Calf Ranch - which employs an intensive confinement practice (keeping calves in cramped, filthy crates - sometimes without room to turn around or lie down) and is the subject of a lawsuit brought by the ALDF.

Nelson has written a letter to the companies and is urging others to join the petition, www.FreeBabyMendes.com, that is already 22,000 people strong.

TMZ.com contacted Mendes Calf Ranch who had no comment on the issue.

Mommas, don't let your baby calves grow up to be milk cows at Mendes indeed.

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16. This is a great story and I really admire for TMZ covering this so young people can get interested in great causes such as humane animal legislation. Thanks!

Posted at 7:01PM on Mar 26th 2008 by prfslcad

17. Dairy Girl what are you talking about?!?! My dad was raised on a dairy farm and they treated their animals very well. Obviously you do not know what you are talking about!!!

Posted at 7:07PM on Mar 26th 2008 by Tennessee Girl

18. Well there goes the LAND O LAKES butter...................out the window!

Posted at 7:03PM on Mar 26th 2008 by Dallas

19. I want happy healthy cow milk!

Posted at 7:19PM on Mar 26th 2008 by sandra ramsey

20. until there are laws passed in California that will halt the inhumane treatment of farm animals, there are NO Happy Cows in California...the commercials are an excellent example of false advertising.

Way to go Mr. Nelson....

Posted at 7:37PM on Mar 26th 2008 by shira

21. Last time I checked milk is only produced by adult females cows that have a calf (think about humans, who makes milk, not babies)! Calves are usually housed in small crates like that so they can be used for veal. Noble cause, but incorrect facts.

Posted at 7:40PM on Mar 26th 2008 by iheartoli

22. GrREAT job willie , now i think ill have a galss of land o'lake and a DOUBLE meat cheese burger.

Posted at 7:54PM on Mar 26th 2008 by operation wtf

23. I find it amazing that they get milk from calves...NOT. Also, anyone who knows a dairy cow knows that if the cow is not happy then no milk is going to be produced!! Dairy cows are the most pampered farm animals on earth!! So I don't buy into this propaganda being spread about them. I don't own a farm but my home is surrounded by dairy farms and I see a lot of cows that live the good life. I don't know what kind of farms they run out there in California but first off, no calf is going to produce milk (only after it has a calf can it produce milk) and if it's unhappy it won't even produce milk. So somebody is misinformed.

Posted at 8:02PM on Mar 26th 2008 by Moderate

24. good god is that all the pepole in AMERICA is woried about is a bunch of dumb cows ...how fuing stupid ....and we live in oregon ..just put 2 in the frezzer....damn they taste good .......

Posted at 8:21PM on Mar 26th 2008 by david

25. Go Vegan
help calves at this farm and all the other animals being treated horribly. The meat industry is poisoning us too using a ridiculous amount of anitboitics on these poor animals to keep them alive longer under harsh conditions so they can get a few more dollars for their flesh. Its sickening how we treat the animals and ourselves.
if I can go vegan anyone can!
read Diet for a New America it will change your life for the better.

Posted at 8:50PM on Mar 26th 2008 by Michelle

26. I wonder if that meant david wasn't going to sign?

Posted at 8:50PM on Mar 26th 2008 by Kelli

27. THANK YOU WILLIE NELSON FOR SPEAKING UP FOR THE ANIMALS. COWS NEED ALL OF OUR HELP. I WISH ALL CELEBRITIES WOULD DO SOMETHING FOR ANIMALS. GOD BLESS. I AM BACKING THIS TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 9:19PM on Mar 26th 2008 by anonymous

28. I'd hit it......talkin' 'bout Willie...not the cow!!

Posted at 9:28PM on Mar 26th 2008 by Beverly Hill

29. While Paris Hilton supports puppy mills

Willie Nelson actually gives a damn about animals

Thank you Willie!

Posted at 9:33PM on Mar 26th 2008 by bethany

30. Dear Willie, Having growing up on a dairy farm, and doing it for most of my life, I know what baby calves go through. They are in calf huts, which yes are small, but efficent and necessary for the first few months of their life. These huts benefit the calf. It's not a cruel process, its another way to raise cattle. Get with the times.

Posted at 10:02PM on Mar 26th 2008 by SD Dairy Man

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