Animal Welfare Concerns Cause Turmoil for Australia's Largest Dairy
AUSTRALIA - The owner of Australia's largest dairy farm is facing a staff mutiny over serious animal welfare and safety concerns.
27 June 2019
1 minute read
In a letter obtained by ABC Rural from senior managers at Van Diemen's Land Company (VDL) to their boss, Chinese businessman Xianfeng Lu, the staff said they "cannot deliver safe, quality dairy products" nor "ensure nor endorse [the company's] animal welfare policies".
Mr Lu controversially purchased the business for $280 million in 2016 after outbidding Australian competitors at the 11th hour.
The dairy business milks around 18,000 cows over 7,062 hectares and employed 140 people at the time of the purchase.
The deal was approved subject to promises made by Mr Lu to invest heavily in the business and increase local employment.
The revelations of internal dissent come after three of the most senior operations managers left their positions. They were either terminated, resigned, or redeployed to other non-dairy parts of the business.
The letter, signed by over 20 members of senior management, was delivered to Mr Lu this week and raises a range of serious concerns.
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Source: ABC Online
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