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Vt. college’s oxen-slaughter plan riles activists

By Lisa Rathke
Published November 10, 2012 5:00am ET
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Vt. college’s oxen-slaughter plan riles activists
In this Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 photo, students eat lunch in the dining hall at Green Mountain College, in Poultney, Vt. To officials at the small Vermont liberal arts college, a decision to slaughter two retired oxen and serve the meat in its dining halls is a matter of sustainable agriculture. But now, the school is under attack by those who want the oxen spared and have found a sanctuary for the animals. Opponents have signed online petitions and sent thousands of emails to staff members. The school received more than 3 million emails from Oct. 13 to Oct. 18 from one Internet domain, and got 200 emails from Spain, officials said. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot) | Toby Talbot

POULTNEY, Vt. (AP) — Bill and Lou have plied the fields of Green Mountain College’s farm in Vermont for most of their lives — about 10 years.

Students have learned to drive the oxen team for haying and tilling, creating bonds with the giant animals. They’re a campus fixture. But a leg injury to Lou this summer turned the now 11-year-old animals into retirees — and a cause celebre among animal rights activists.

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