On Monday, April 10, 2023, an explosion occurred at South Fork Dairy Farm in Dimmit, Texas, and the fire killed 18,000 cows. Authorities believe the fire was caused by a malfunction in the facility’s manure management system. The animals were trapped inside the burning factory and only a few survived.
South Fork Dairy Farm, one of the largest dairy farms in the country, is located in Dimmitt, Texas, 75 miles northwest of Lubbock. To date, the April 10 fire is the largest mass cow death in a single fire across the United States in at least two decades.
The scale of the Dimmitt fire broke a record due to the number of domestic animals in the building, equivalent to the capacity of 26 football fields. Fires are all too common in factory farmswhere a large number of animals are kept in close quarters.
Sid Miller, Texas agriculture commissioner, said:
This is the deadliest barn fire in Texas history… Investigation and cleanup can take some time.
Sid Miller
According to a statement by local law enforcement, the fire could have been caused by a potential equipment failure. In an interview with local news station Fox34, Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera said:
Maybe it’s what they call a ‘honey badger’, like a machine that sucks poop and water out. It could be that it overheated and the methane and the like could have ignited and spread causing explosions and fires.
Sal Rivera
The cows that survived the explosion are being moved to another facility north of South Fork Dairy Farm.
How can you help animals
Show your support for this important cause and make your voice heard! Together, we can work towards a more humane and sustainable future for all animals. Join our End Factory Farming campaign by signing our petition today.
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PROTECT THE MOTHER’S LOVE
A cow’s maternal instinct fosters a tender relationship with its vulnerable young. Maintain this tender relationship by choosing plant-based alternatives to dairy products.
