Facts About Irish Farm Animals - VEAL

What does Compassion want?

Thousands of young calves, just a few weeks old, are exported from the Republic of Ireland to the Continent. Many are destined for veal farms in the Netherlands. Compassion - Ireland is of the view that very young calves should not be transported on long journeys as they are particularly poor travellers. We want Irish calves to be reared humanely in Ireland.

Introduction

Veal is the name of the light-coloured meat from young calves. It is widely eaten on the European Continent and is commonly found on restaurant menus in France, Belgium and Italy. Although not popular in Ireland, veal is served in some Irish restaurants.

The main veal producing countries in Europe are France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy. Some of these countries used to produce veal by rearing calves in a particularly inhumane system where the calves were confined in narrow veal crates for about 4 to 6 months. At that point, the calves were slaughtered. This type of veal is sometimes referred to as "white veal" due to its unnaturally pale colour. The veal crate system is now illegal in the EU.

Another system of producing veal is where the calves are kept housed together in groups. Some group housing systems are very barren and may have slatted floors and provide little space for the calves (see photo of Irish calves in one of these barren veal farms in the Netherlands).

What is the law?

EU law (Council Directive 91/629/EEC as amended) lays down the minimum standards for the protection of calves. Under this law, veal crates became illegal throughout the EU from 2007. Instead, calves can be kept in individual pens only until they are 8 weeks old; after that they must be kept in group housing.

Are Irish calves used in veal production in other countries?

In the Republic of Ireland, the majority of calves used for the veal trade are the male calves of the dairy herd. The calves are separated from their mothers at only a few days old. They are transported to veal production systems in Continental Europe. Veal crate systems are now illegal. However, replacement group housing systems can be very intensive, with calves held in barren pens with slatted floors.

What is the journey like for these Irish calves?

Irish calves are exported to the Continent when they are about 3 weeks old. The main destination is veal production units in the Netherlands. Irish calves face a journey by road to a port in Ireland, then a sea-crossing to the Continent, and finally another road journey to their destination. Young calves are known to be poor travellers and are prone to become ill, particularly in the weeks following their journey.

Are there any veal production systems that are more humane?

There are veal production systems that are certainly much better than the veal crate, and are a significant improvement over barren group housing systems where calves have little space. These improved group housing systems provide the calves with plenty of straw and also give them more space (see photo). The veal from these more welfare-friendly systems may be called "rose veal" and CIWF belives that this is a better way to produce veal.

What can you do?

If you eat veal, choose the type that has been produced in a welfare-friendly group housing system where the calves have plenty of room and straw to lie on. If veal is on a restaurant menu, ask them where this veal is from and how the calves were kept. Then you can make an informed decision about whether you want to order it or not.

What now?

CIWF believes that very young calves, just a few weeks old, should not be forced to travel long distances. Instead we want the Irish Government to find alternative ways to rear these calves in Ireland.