Neglected cattle thriving after being moved to Kenosha County Sheriff's farm

 A little more than a week after being pulled from barns in deplorable conditions, 15 cows have found a new, temporary home with the Kenosha county sheriff.

These cows almost didn't make it, in fact, authorities found more than 80 dead cattle in the two farms owned by the Schmeckel family. But Sheriff David Beth says with some help from friends both the cattle and the farms are rapidly improving. 

\"This person allowed calves to perish and just left them there. Part of me wonders what allowed that to happen,\" said Beth. 

Though he doesn't understand how the farms in the towns of Paris and Brighton got to be so bad, Sheriff Beth says, he knew it would all work out. 

\"When I first gave the family seven days to clean it up, they said 'We can't do it, there's just too much.' And I said you have help. Well get you it,\" said Beth. 

He says the man running the farms is disabled and was overwhelmed with the care of the animals but people have now stepped up to help him out. 

\"Last week there were between 20-30 different farmers from across the state, helping to bring in equipment and clean up. Both farms have been cleaned up. The waste that came out is like a mountain it's unbelievable,\" said Beth. 

Fifteen  cattle were in poor condition and Beth had the land, so he took them in. 

He says when the cattle came to his farm, they were covered in manure, but you can see now, most of that manure has fallen off, and there's new fur growing back.

 \"Some of these animals were living in two feet of manure and right now they're living in green grass, they've got a clean tank of water, they get fed a couple times a day and  they're not breathing the smell of decaying carcasses and manure into their lungs every single minute of their lives,\" said Beth. 

And while a few area farmers are keeping a watchful eye on the upkeep of the farms, Beth says, the healing cattle are in good hands. 

\"One of the interesting issues is my children have started to fall in love with them with the daily care and they've named them all,\" he said.

Meanwhile, plans are being made for their future. 

\"One option is definitely to have them stay here another is to find someone who'd want to adopt them and the main option is trying to get the original owners farm up to speed which it is,\" said Beth. 

Beth plans to meet with the district attorney this week to discuss the future of the animals, and says, the Schmeckel family is ready to deal with the consequences of their actions.