In 2015–16 New Zealand, another country with a large dairy industry, was hit by the male calf scandal when videos and reports of starved and abused male dairy calves were widely circulated by welfare organisations. The only alternative is to shoot the calf at birth, or to let calves die of neglect. Although campaigners are opposed to the trade, the Irish government has described it as “ a vital safety valve for the beef sector”. The Irish beef trade has formerly been a useful outlet for unwanted dairy calves, but demand last year was sluggish, and selective breeding increasingly means that dairy calves may not be suitable for beef anyway.Įxporting the calves is another option. Both increase the need for extra short-term labour, which can be costly or hard to find. The situation is further complicated by Ireland’s “compact calving” system, which sees most calves born in a 12-week period from February to April, and the swift removal of calves from their mothers.
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