A calf that was born publicly at the Porto Moniz Livestock Fair last Saturday did not survive. The incident, which required a veterinarian's intervention to save the cow, has become a symbol of deeper criticisms regarding the organization of livestock events and the treatment of animal welfare.
PS deputy Sílvia Sousa Silva used her Facebook page to denounce what she considers "serious negligence" and a distortion of the fair. She questioned the acceptance of animals nearing the end of their gestation in stressful environments, contrasting it with past practices where pregnant animals were not allowed.
According to the deputy, in the past, there was a rigorous criterion for selecting exhibited animals to protect pregnant cows. Currently, a shortage of animals for exhibition and a lack of respect for producers, including delayed prize payments, have led to a breakdown of trust and the need to "beg" producers to participate, even if it puts the animals at risk.
