Estonian Farm Probe Launched After Dozens of Cattle Found Neglected
Animal welfare organizations in Viljandi County, Estonia, have rescued approximately 60 severely distressed cattle, prompting the nation's Agricultural and Food Board to launch an investigation into the farm and its own prior handling of the case after a warning was issued last year.
- —Animal welfare organizations discovered approximately 60 head of cattle in severe distress on a farm in Viljandi County, Estonia, with many animals exhibiting signs of extreme emaciation, untreated wounds, and poor living conditions.
- —The Estonian Animal Protection Union received a tip-off about the neglected cattle, finding them in a dire state, some fed only moldy hay, with two unable to stand and one found in a snowdrift during a cold snap.
- —The Estonian Society for the Protection of Animals rescued sick and starving cattle from the farm, though the head of the Estonian Native Breed Cattle Breeders' Society assessed that only about ten animals were in a critical condition, with others being of a hardy breed.
- —The elderly owner of the animals maintains that the cattle were in normal condition and that the local breed can withstand winter frosts outdoors.
- —The Estonian Agricultural and Food Board (PTA) is investigating the situation, noting that a previous inspection in April 2025 indicated deteriorating animal conditions, and a warning had been issued.
- —The PTA has initiated an internal investigation into its handling of the situation, particularly regarding a previous incident in October where neglected cattle had to be euthanized.
Recap
The discovery of starving cattle is not an isolated incident of animal cruelty but an exposure of a potential regulatory failure. The Agricultural and Food Board's internal investigation, following a prior warning and a similar past case, suggests a systemic breakdown in enforcement. Conflicting assessments of the animals' health—ranging from critically ill to normal for their breed—underscore the challenge of applying consistent welfare standards, placing the credibility of the state's oversight body under intense scrutiny.