Animal drama in Upper Austria

94 cows and calves dead: how the tragedy happened

The animal drama took place on this farm in Attergau (Vöcklabruck district). The authorities had the stables evacuated and 94 cattle had to be slaughtered.(Bild: Robert Loy)

It is an unbelievable case of animal cruelty on a farm in Upper Austria: a farmer left his animals starving and standing knee-deep in dirt, cows and calves had to die. The drama in Attergau is also the result of a human tragedy. A local inspection.

Claudia S. stands crying in the driveway of her farm in a village in Attergau on Wednesday morning. She looks at the dilapidated building opposite. The lawn in front of it hasn't been mowed for a long time and there is an old Steyr tractor in front of the barn that doesn't look like it will start.