Sounds to me that they are buying the sick calves from the auction barn. They are really cheap. Mom used to do it to try to save them she spent lots of bucks on the little guys .I would say she had about a 70 percent servival rate. Scours can take a calf in hours.
I hte to say this on this board but most farms are this way the owners don't want to be come attached so it's don't name them of get close. I was raised that they were there for me to play with but later they were to feed me and help the family to survive. I think it was a healthy way to be raised I did it for my kids too mostly rabbits and chickens. we didn't have a large place for cattle,my pfolks did so the kids were used to it.
I am some what concerned about the domestic dogs if left with no one there all day , duh no wonder thepoor thing followed his natrual instincts. most farm animals can be maintaned as they are doing but they never reach there true potental. I would have the HS check the place out.