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Holey cows! Researchers deny cruelty

The Canadian Press
Published: Sunday, November 05, 2006

BRANDON, Man. -- Researchers who've cut gaping holes in cattle on display at a Manitoba agricultural exhibition are denying accusations of animal cruelty levelled by an animal-rights group.

An eight-year-old Jersey cow named Darth on display Friday at an agricultural exhibition in Brandon had a hole in the side of his stomach big enough to stick an adult's arm in -- all the way up to the shoulder.

The holes -- capped by a rubbery plug -- allow researchers to insert nutrients into the animal's stomach and monitor its digestive system.

"It's something quite unique," said Terri Garner, a ruminant research technician with the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Agriculture.

It's also cruel, declared a director with the Winnipeg Humane Society.

"This is animal abuse masking as education and I think it's seriously disturbing," said John Youngman.

"I think schools should seriously question exposing children to animal abuse. I think what it's really teaching kids is it's okay to ruin an animal's life for human curiosity."

Garner, elbow-deep in Darth's stomach, denied the procedure is inhumane.

"The holes allow us to do this kind of research without hurting the animal," she insisted, noting the cow was calm.

The procedure has been in use since the 1800s; there are nine other holey cows in Garner's care.