Home : Wacky & Weird, Critters : Cowboy Willie Nelson Stands Up For Cows

Cowboy Willie Nelson Stands Up For Cows

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

Cowboy Willie Nelson stands up for cows Willie 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.

Reader Comments

(Page 5 of 5) Previous 15 Comments

61. I grew up on a dairy not far from the MCR. The fact is that the calves are raised in crates for their own safety and sanitation. MCR is very focus on the safety and health of the animals that they raise. The article doesn’t mention that the calves are bottle fed 2 times a day. If you have every bottle fed a baby calf then you would know that they are indeed "Happy Cows". If you follow a healthy diet and consume meat and dairy products, where do you think it comes from? Come on people think, the milk doesn't just come from the grocery store! Agriculturalists have the responsibility to produce the best quality, safest, cheapest food while using the best possible environmental and animal husbandry practices. And I think California Farmers do an awesome job! Willie go pay your taxes and leave MCR alone!

Posted at 1:45PM on Mar 28th 2008 by California Gal

62. Willie rocks! Love he's taking a stand for mistreated animals (cows and also pits), supports alternative fuel research and still finds times to do new projects and tour the music. He's got a 4 cd, 100 song box set out 4/1/8 too called "One Hell of a Ride" and I bet it has been just that.

Posted at 4:51PM on Mar 31st 2008 by Lilli

63. Everyone should sign this petition. Cows should not have to be confined in such small areas like that. Good job, Willie.

Posted at 9:39AM on Mar 29th 2008 by Jessica Nyquist

64. I just love you, Willie Nelson (And ALDF). THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE HIDEOUS, INHUMAE, ILLEGAL CONDITIONS BABY COWS ARE FORCED TO SUFFER/ LANGUISH IN, IN ORDER TO PRODUCE MONEY-MAKING MILK FOR THE MONEY-MAKING, SHAMEFUL DAIRY INDUSTRY. SHAME ON THE DAIRY INDUSTRY FOR THEIR MASSIVE, LONGTERM, ONGOING , MINDBLOWINGLY-CRUEL AND INSANELY INHUMANE, WELL-HIDDEN MISTREATMENT/ABUSE OF COWS AND THEIR BABIES (CALFS). IT'S ABOUT TIME TO EXPOSE THE ANIMAL ABUSE!!!!!!

BRAVO, WILLIE NELSON!!! BRAVO ALDF!!! NEVER STOP FIGHING INJUSTICE! ANIMAL CRUELTY IS AN UNFORGIVEABLE SIN. AND IT'S ILLEGAL. GO GET 'EM!!!!!!

XXOXOXOXO JILLOUISE

Posted at 2:29PM on Mar 30th 2008 by Jillouise

65. It's a horrible, cruel practice done daily on dairy farms..... The good news is some "lucky" calf prisoners get to live 4 or so months to slaugher as "veal"..... "Bob Veal" are slaughtered within 48 hours of birth. By the way, these are all male calves..... Dairy has a horrible dark side - wish no part of animals as food.... Go Vegan....

Posted at 7:18PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Provoked

66. You know it's interesting to me how one celebrity can influence the thoughts and actions of millions of people. I guess it just goes to show that today's society thinks less and less for themselves. Willie Nelson says that calves are being treated wrongly so therefore it must be true? Whatever happened to researching the facts. Have any of you ever stepped foot on a dairy or even actually seen a cow in real life? Do any of you have any concept of what it takes to raise a cow? Did it ever cross anyone's mind that maybe the calves are sent to the calf ranch to HELP it not only survive but become a good, strong, and healthy animal?

Here are some facts:
-California leads the nation in total milk production. In 2007, California produced a record 40.6 billion pounds of milk - 22 percent of the nation's total production. (USDA)
-California's dairy business generated $47.4 billion in economic activity and more than 434,000 full-time jobs in California in 2004. (CMAB, J/D/G Consulting)
-California's milk standards exceed federal standards because California processors add nonfat milk solids which offer improved taste and nutritional benefits. California milks exceed the federal guidelines for the amounts of calcium and protein in each serving. (CMAB)

Let's not forget either that the same people that are producing milk for our nation ar also farmers that are producing all those veggies you buy at the grocery store.

My point? If you have no concept of an issue or are not educated on both sides of the issue, than maybe you should do a little research to create an opinion for yourself. Not just what some celebrity decides to promote.

Posted at 1:04PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by cow lover

Previous 15 Comments