Goats Punched, Kicked, Burned, Pus-Filled, and Dying on “Family” Farm for Goat Cheese
Update (April 1, 2026): A Malheur County judge has ordered that all of the roughly 240 goats seized from Grand Barr Dairy in February are forfeited to the county. We’re grateful to the judge for ordering that these long-suffering goats be spared from going back to the farmers who left them to suffer.
On February 27, the operators of the dairy, Taunia Barr and Aaron Barr, were indicted by a Malheur County grand jury on 478 charges of felony animal neglect—each punishable by up to five years in jail and a $125,000 fine.
Original post:
If you’re at the store and see goat cheese with a label yapping about “happy” goats, remember this.
This crippled goat is Tina. A whistleblower who worked at Grand Barr Dairy reported that many of the about 250 goats like Tina exploited for milk on the Oregon farm were bone-thin, kept in poor conditions, and dying in large numbers.
PETA’s investigator went undercover at the dairy and saw the co-owners had used a hot iron to burn sensitive horn tissue—without pain relief—off 4- to 6-week-old kids. A co-owner crudely castrated goat kids—also without pain relief—by putting tight bands around their scrotums. The dairy co-owners also punched and slapped goats and pulled their tails, and a worker kicked goats, hit others with branches, and poked one lactating doe in her swollen udder, over and over. 😡
left to suffer because the vet ‘costs money’
A doe, whom the investigator named Carrie, was so weak she couldn’t stand. When the investigator pointed out that Carrie might die, the workers shrugged and said the owners wouldn’t call a veterinarian for sick animals, but would “just let [illness] run its course.” And guess what? Carrie died. Her body was tossed on a pile of dirt and other goat remains to rot.
Another goat named Shannon suffered from a burst abscess on her face. The dairy’s co-owner said it was from a super-contagious bacterial infection. In rare cases, this infection can also be passed to humans through contaminated milk, causing inflamed and abscessed lymph nodes. 😶 Ofc, the dairy was careful about this health hazard … right? Nope, the goats with the abscesses were still milked. 🤮
goat cheese tears babies from moms
Researchers have found that mother goats recognize their kids’ unique cries long after being separated from them. But at this dairy, like on any other, goat kids were taken from their moms right after birth so that the milk meant for them could be sold and made into cheese.
A kid, whom the investigator named Charlie, was found panting, drooling, and suffering from diarrhea. A co-owner said that Charlie had “probably been eating dog food” and denied him care. He died that day.
Two coughing kids also died without care, and their remains were tossed in a pile.
smaller farm, same failures
Here’s the kicker: All this misery took place on a small “family” farm. Animals used by family-operated farms like this one suffer just as much as those on factory farms.
The only way to make sure that your food doesn’t harm animals is to go vegan. Pass on products made from any animal’s milk and go for delish dairy-free options, including creamy, spreadable vegan goat cheese. 😋
you can help goats abused and neglected for milk
Please help miserable goats like those at Grand Barr Dairy—ditch goat cheese and go vegan! Take the pledge here, and we’ll mail you a free Guide to Going Vegan to help you make the transition. 🙌
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