Stop Meyenberg's Goat Graveyard
We are calling on the Kings County Animal Services Department and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) to investigate the high mortality rates at Meyenberg's Vera Goat Dairy factory farm in Stratford and to stop the illegal dumping of dead goats at this facility.
Footage obtained by DxE investigators in early 2025 shows that Vera Goat Dairy regularly dumps dozens of mother and baby goats into an illegal dead pile at the facility at risk to public health and the surrounding environment, including other animals in the area. Investigators documented cattle grazing on top of a dead pile and dogs on the property eating the bodies in the dead pile. This unimpeded exposure puts these animals at risk of contracting or spreading diseases from the deceased goats. In 2021, RWQCB cited Vera Goat Dairy for improperly disposing of deceased animals. This is one of at least seven RWQCB enforcement actions at the facility dating back to 2013. Yet, the violations have still not been stopped.
DxE investigators also heard frequent coughing and sneezing from the goats in the barns, and documented goats with engorged and distended teats. Hidden camera footage of the birthing pen showed workers handling animals roughly, including lifting up a mother goat by her neck and tail area to throw her into a trailer.
The above practices constitute criminal animal cruelty in violation of California Penal Code Section 597 and also create an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health and the environment. There must be an immediate investigation into the conditions at Vera Dairy.
This Whole Foods-supplying goat dairy operation is regularly dumping dozens of mother and baby goats in an illegal mass graveyard.
Vera Goat Dairy in Stratford, California is a factory farm with approximately 9,000 goats. It supplies milk to Meyenberg, the largest producer of goat milk in the United States. Meyenberg processes 25 million pounds of milk each year, which it sells at major retailers including Whole Foods and also exports overseas.
Through drone videography, DxE investigators discovered a mass graveyard of dead goats at Vera Goat Dairy in early 2025. Repeated visits showed it was not a singular event. Large numbers of goats were routinely being dumped in the dead pile in violation of state water protection regulations.
In fact, investigators soon learned this illegal dumping of animals has been happening for years. Vera Goat Dairy, which was formerly called Milk Flow Dairy, was cited by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) in 2021 for illegally disposing of dead animals on site. DxE's latest investigation shows the violations are continuing, and the authorities are failing to protect the environment or the animals -- despite literal mounds of evidence.
DxE repeatedly documented and reported the graveyard of goats, including covered dirt mounds filled with the bones of these deceased animals (like the one shown below).
DxE investigators commenced a month-long investigation to find out why such huge numbers of mother and baby goats were dying or being killed at this supposedly "Certified Humane" farm.
This is what they found:
DxE investigators saved Sarah from a mother's worst nightmare.
During the course of the investigation, two DxE investigators rescued a sick mother goat and her baby who was attempting to nurse but was unable to due to the mother's distended and inflamed udders, as well as a second baby who was lethargic and in a state of respiratory distress with nasal discharge. The mother, whom rescuers named Sarah, and the second baby, named Castiel, were both found to have pneumonia and received medical treatment. Sarah got pain medication for her inflamed udders and both babies were able to nurse from her.
But little Castiel was not doing well. He had a high fever and was still quite lethargic even on medication. For weeks, he had to be bottle-fed and carefully monitored until finally, he beat his infection.
Now, Sarah, Johnny, and Castiel are healthy, safe, and free to frolic through flowers and climb over rocks and hills.
Every animal deserves the same freedom and care.
But the goats at Meyenberg's Vera Goat Dairy are living a nightmare. Many of the mother goats, already in pain themselves, must watch their sick babies suffer, unable to do anything to help. Eventually, many of these babies will end up in a mass grave. But the mothers will get no reprieve. They will once again be impregnated and carry new babies to term, stuck in a cycle of violence -- all so that their bodies keep producing milk for Whole Foods to market as "humane" and sell to deceived customers.
The cycle of violence must end. We're calling on Kings County Animal Services and the RWQCB to shut down Meyenberg's goat graveyard.
Please join us in speaking up for the mother and baby goats at Meyenberg's Vera Goat Dairy. After you sign the petition above to shut down the goat graveyard at Vera Goat Dairy, please take a minute to share the campaign video on your social media to spread the word to others.
Want to take more action? You can also contact Whole Foods and ask them to drop Meyenberg Dairy and stop marketing factory farmed products as "humane." They have a customer service phone number and a live chat written option here.
Through investigations like this, we can expose the myth of "humane" animal exploitation.
Are you a member of the press? Visit our press kit, including photos, video, and detailed information here.
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