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 Thousands of young calves are again being sent on long journeys to the continent, following the lifting of the 10-year ban imposed under the BSE restrictions and this more recent temporary ban relating to Foot and Mouth outbreak in Surrey.
Calves from high yielding dairy breeds put on less muscle bulk than beef cattle, making them less economically viable to rear for meat, even though the quality of the meat is good. Male calves are either exported as young as fifteen days old or killed at birth, wasting thousands of healthy lives.
Some animals are travelling to the port in Dover from as far away as Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. Nearly 15% are taken as far as Spain, on journeys taking an average of almost 70 hours.
 Young calves are particularly vulnerable on long journeys, as their immune systems are not fully developed and they are very susceptible to heat and cold stress. Studies reveal that, after transport, calves suffer from:
- traumatic weight loss
- increased levels of sickness
- increased levels of mortality
Once on the continent, they are often taken to veal units where they are reared in conditions which would be illegal in the UK. Though veal crates have now been banned across the EU, calves are often reared in barren systems on the continent, without bedding and on slatted floors. In the UK, the law demands that calves are provided with straw bedding, which we regard as essential for warmth and comfort.
CIWF wants live exports and killing at birth to end, with calves being reared in the UK for high welfare meat. CIWF is currently working with the dairy and beef industry, UK supermarkets and government, through the Beyond Calf Exports Stakeholders Forum (31KB PDF), to find alternatives to this cruel trade.
You can also help fund our work by making a donation today.
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