Caroline Rowley WE ARE CONSISTENTLY told by the State that the live export of farm animals is a highly regulated industry, with high welfare standards and care for the animals.
Exports have grown in recent years; largely as a result of the uncontrolled expansion of the dairy industry that is producing an increasing number of male calves that the sector has no outlet for.European regulations state that animals should not be transported for more than eight hours; however, there are derogations for longer journey times so long as certain conditions are met around rest and feeding times.
In reality, however, welfare groups have documented cases where calves are in a truck at ports after nine hours and are still on the ferry after 19 hours. As there are around 300 in each truck over three levels, it is not possible to access all calves to dispense the milk. In essence, many weeks-old calves are going 24-30 hours with no feed.
Young, vulnerable calves do not have a fully developed immune system and the lack of feed has an adverse impact further compromising immunity. To leave them without feed for up to 30 hours will compound the stress of the journey and further compromise their immune system.All transporters, including ferry companies, have been authorised to transport livestock by the Department of Agriculture with certain obligations to ensure that the transport of animals is conducted in line with the requirements under EU regulations.
CazzieR68 Thanks for writing this article Caroline. I hope people will ask themselves questions and start facing up to what they are supporting in Ireland. The level of ignorance is saddening but coverage like this is a step in the right direction!
Thank you CazzieR68 on behalf of all the unweaned calves. ethicalfarmIE BanLiveExport
Live animal export for slaughter is an abomination