Liberty, a three-year-old Wagyu cow, was about to face slaughter at a California beef plant. Instead, she gave birth to a baby girl: a life-affirming event that wound up saving them both.
Rather than separate mother from baby—a tragic, yet standard part of animal agriculture—Manning Beef president and CEO Anthony Di Maria felt that they deserved a chance. With his blessing—and along with support from LA Animal Save, documentary filmmaker Shaun Monson, and actor and activist Joaquin Phoenix—we welcomed Liberty and Indigo home to Farm Sanctuary.
“My hope is, as we watch baby Indigo grow up with her mom Liberty at Farm Sanctuary, that we’ll always remember that friendships can emerge in the most unexpected places; and no matter our differences, kindness and compassion should rule everything around us,” Phoenix said on their arrival.
Liberty and Indigo are among several mother-child pairs that Manning Beef has relinquished to nearby sanctuaries. Last year, we also welcomed Jackie: an Angus cow whose ailing calf passed away shortly after their rescue. She and Liberty are now close friends. They’ll stay together for the rest of their lives.
Lives that nearly ended far too soon.