Four cows die after German activists free them from organic farm

Four cows died after they were freed from their pens at an organic farm by German activists – and ate too much concentrated feed.

A further 40 cows are in a critical condition after they ate up to 10kg of feed at the Liebenwalder Agrar farm in the state of Brandenburg, the Berliner Zeitung reports.

It is thought the suspects, thought to be animal rights activists, trespassed onto the farm and released the dairy cows and calves between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The cows then made their way to the concentrate feed area and ate up to 10kg of concentrated feed. They are normally give a maximum of 2kg a day.

Anja Schiemann, the farm’s managing director, told the newspaper: ‘Too much concentrate feed causes the digestive system in the rumen to be severely disturbed.

‘The damage to the liver is just too much.’

Schiemann added the loss of four cows as well as the deteriorating health of so many others will cause the farm to suffer financially.

The suspects, thought to be animal rights activists, trespassed onto the farm and released the dairy cows and calves between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Stock photo

The farm has offered a €1,000 (£890) reward for information that could lead to the capture of the suspects.

Police are also investigating the incident.