The Animal Recovery Mission is demanding felony charges against employees at a Florida dairy farm after workers were caught on camera abusing cows.
Surveillance video acquired by an undercover ARM investigator shows employees at Larson Dairy Farm in Okeechobee beating the cows.
According to a news release, the undercover investigator secured a job at Larson Dairy in August and captured and documented the "extensive and widespread abuse."
ARM is requesting that state and federal authorities charge Larson Dairy owner Jacob Larson with a third-degree felony for having control of the dairy cows at the company's barn and failing to act upon his employees.
ARM is also requesting that charges be brought against the dairy farm workers and their supervisors.
ARM officials said Larson Dairy workers were instructed by their supervisors to use any means necessary to increase production.
***WARNING: Video shows graphic footage that some may find disturbing***
They said steel rebar was used force cows into their milking stations. Employees also used the rebar to spear and beat the dairy cows repeatedly in the torso and head.
ARM officials said workers also were captured on camera punching and kicking the cows in the head, often bringing the 1,500-pound animal to its knees.
ARM officials claimed that Larson witnessed many of the abuses within the milking barn and never made any attempt to discipline his employees.
Larson Dairy produces more than 25,000 gallons of milk a day and sells its milk in many large grocery stores, including Publix, ARM officials said.
ARM officials said the company also has strong ties to the University of Florida, which uses Larson Daisy as a laboratory for dairy science and the UF veterinary school.