Vermont’s Green Mountain College has postponed the slaughter of two oxen because of threats made to local slaughterhouses from animal rights groups.
The college says it stands by the school community’s decision to slaughter the animals that are being retired because of injury. The meat will be processed into beef products to be served in the college dining hall.
In an email to students, faculty and staff, president Paul J. Fonteyn said some groups are attempting to use the oxen, named Bill and Lou, as mascots for their own extremist agendas.
The college planned to slaughter the animals by the end of the month. But Fonteyn said the school won’t meet that deadline because "regional slaughterhouses have been inundated with hostile and threatening emails and phone calls" from outside groups.