RISING CITY - A calf ranch in Butler County is under fire after being accused of abuse by an international animal rights organization.

Animal Equality released a video on Thursday, alleging a pattern of neglect at Summit Calf Ranch near Rising City. In a statement along with the video, Animal Equality said its undercover footage that was compiled this past winter shows the prolonged suffering of dozens of calves.

"Among the cruelty witnessed, our investigator found workers shoving, jabbing, and hitting calves with sorting sticks and hut rods, painful disbudding of calves using hot irons, calves dying of scours and pneumonia after being left outdoors in freezing temperatures, and hernia repair, banding, and other painful procedures without pain medication," Animal Equality said.

In a response statement provided to News Channel Nebraska, Summit Calf Ranch owner Todd Tuls said that animal welfare is the highest priority of Tuls Dairy, and that this past winter provided some of the most challenging weather conditions in decades.

"In spite of these difficult circumstances, this video shows our workers handling animals in a way that indicates they were attentive to their needs and following proper guidelines," Tuls said in the statement.

Animal Equality International Director of Investigations Sean Thomas says that the investigation was conducted to look into the state of dairy calves in Nebraska, and that the group believes that consumers should know how cattle are being treated.

"We feel that the public has a right to know how animals are being treated to create the products that they're buying," Thomas said. "The real meaningful change can come from the consumers, and can come from the companies that are buying the milk."

Tuls later said in his statement that the company is going to use this as an opportunity to further improve its system of treating its calves, and that a full review of Summit Cattle Ranch is currently underway by outside experts.

"We are convinced that our farm staff shares this same commitment to following strong animal care practices, and will continue to take necessary steps to further enhance our already strong dedication to continuing to treat our calves and all of our cattle in an ethical manner," Tuls said in the statement.

Despite the desire to change, Thomas believes that it's nearly impossible for Summit Calf Ranch to give adequate care to its cattle, and says the real change needs to come from the purchasers of dairy products.

"At the Summit Calf Ranch they have over 10,000 calves, and they're expanding, so I think it's impossible for them to give the actual care that the calves need to live a healthy life," Thomas said. "The customers can actually make the most meaningful change, and that is choosing alternatives to dairy."

Todd Tuls was unable to be reached for direct comment on the matter.