Dairy industry bodies say they are appalled at the care of Bobby calves revealed in video footage recorded by animal rights group Farmwatch – with a small minority of transporters also alleged to be involved in issues.
Among mistreatment recorded by Farmwatch, and released in conjunction with SAFE, includes truck drivers roughly throwing calves into the back of trucks.
DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle says cruel, and illegal practices are in no way condoned or accepted by the industry as part of dairy farming.
“We are shocked and farmers are too,” Mackle says. “We will be asking questions of everyone involved. Farmers don’t see what goes on when calves leave their farm, and we need to be holding the transport operators and processing plants to account to ensure bad practices get stamped out of our industry.
“There is a range of industry initiatives already in place and we will be boosting our actions with other groups to ensure the care of calves.”
Federated Farmers’ dairy section chair, Andrew Hoggard says, “farmers have to farm within strict animal welfare rules, and the vast majority care for their animals humanely and responsibly”.
He says the footage released includes some appalling behaviour, by a minority of farmers but also by transport companies and slaughterhouse workers.
“This is something we and the industry will not tolerate,” Hoggard says.
“Federated Farmers strongly, and each season, reinforces to its members that the highest standards of animal welfare must apply when dealing with all calves. The federation will also put resources behind any industry initiatives to review the handling, transport and processing of bobby calves,” says Hoggard.
