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Unknown people destroy pasture fences: farmer in great distress!
Farmers in Münsing complain about vandalism of pasture fences. Investigations are ongoing while the situation remains critical for businesses.
Unknown people destroy pasture fences: farmer in great distress!
In Münsing, a small town in the Bavarian district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, farmers are currently faced with a scary challenge. Pasture fences are repeatedly destroyed, causing great despair among local farmers. In the last few days, farmer Stefan Hirn has discovered that unknown perpetrators have cut 30 electric fence tapes. This means a considerable additional burden for him, as he has to repair or replace the damaged belts, which takes up a lot of time that he would actually like to use for his animals and maintaining his meadows. In addition, iron stakes that are used to secure the fence are torn out of the ground and thrown into the grass. This is a big problem because it can lead to costly damage to the mowers.
Hirn assumes that a local resident and dog owner may be behind the crimes. The situation is particularly serious for him because he sells the grass from his pastures to other farmers who feed it to their cows. Additionally, dog feces in the meadows could cause health problems for the cows, and this is an aspect that worries him greatly.
Reward for clues and a glimpse of the future
The pressure on farmers is increasing because Sebastian Bernwieser, who has leased Hirn pastures, would also like to let his young animals graze on these meadows, but has massive concerns about the ongoing destruction. “The police have been informed, but there is no specific vandalism problem in the area,” explains Bernwieser. Even though police recommend continuing to file reports, the frustration is understandable. “Reports are often posted without results with the note: ‘Perpetrator unknown,’” criticized one affected person and recalled the possible criminal consequences for perpetrators, especially in the case of road traffic accidents that could be caused by such destruction. In order to stop the vandalism, farmer Willmes has already offered a reward of 500 euros for information about the perpetrators.
The situation is becoming existential for some farmers, affecting not only the economic aspects, but also the future of livestock farming in the region. If the vandalism continues, Hirn thinks about whether there might soon be no more cows grazing in Münsing. “I have already protected one of my meadows a little better with a wooden paddock fence,” says Hirn. But the question remains as to how long this protection will last if the signs prohibiting entry to pastures are both destroyed and stolen.
Animal welfare standards and challenges in agriculture
Against the background of such challenges in agriculture, it is important to note that the keeping of animals is also in the context of animal welfare standards. Strict regulations apply in Germany, but they may differ from the requirements of other European countries. An example: Handling animals without anesthesia has long been banned in Germany, while it is still practiced in many other countries. These differences in animal welfare standards are another issue that concerns farmers like Hirn and Willmes, because they not only have to deal with vandalism, but also with unequal competitive conditions.
What's next for the farmers in Münsing? The police recommend not giving up and collecting further feedback. “We will continue to pursue this,” said a police spokeswoman. It remains to be hoped that the pressure on the perpetrators will increase and the community will stand up for respectful use of valuable agricultural resources.