Beyond Calf Exports Stakeholder Forum

Compassion and RSPCA’s groundbreaking male dairy calf project

Black and white Holstein dairy cattle

The Beyond Calf Exports Stakeholder Forum’s collaborative approach has proved to be as successful as it is groundbreaking.

Compassion and the RSPCA convened the Forum in 2006. Since then, Forum members – including beef and dairy industry bodies and organisations, retailers, Defra, leading academics and animal welfare organisations – have introduced a wide range of very positive initiatives to solve the problem of the dairy industry's unwanted black and white male calves.

Retailers leading the way

Six leading retailers carry out projects to increase the rearing of male dairy calves within their supply chains and improve the health and welfare of calves and cows alike.

M&S has stopped selling imported white veal.

In July 2008, it introduced a range of eight higher welfare British veal products produced on a dairy farm in Scotland. M&S advises that it is now in discussion with other dairy and beef producers within its supply chain to increase the number of calves reared. In 2007, M&S invested £250,000 in a unique computer system to monitor dairy cow health and welfare on its farms.

McDonald’s is running a trial with its suppliers to rear dairy bull calves for its beef supply chain.

Morrisons is developing a trial which aims to provide viable alternatives to avoid destroying dairy bull calves at birth or exporting them to continental veal farms.

Tesco has not allowed its 1,200 dairy farmers to export their calves since 2008, a decision applauded by Compassion in World Farming.

Tesco has also launched an initiative to encourage its farmers to ensure that calves receive adequate colostrum – the first milk that a calf receives from its mother – immediately after birth. Colostrum is essential for the calf’s immune system; it protects the calf against infectious disease and promotes good health and welfare. In addition, Tesco is financially subsidising its farmers if they use sexed semen, which has the potential to reduce the numbers of male dairy calves being born.

Sainsbury’s has replaced Dutch veal with higher welfare British veal and is currently considering how it can develop supply chains to rear male dairy calves.

Waitrose launched a scheme sometime ago with the aim of ensuring that every male dairy calf born on its dairy farms has a purpose within the UK beef market. Already 40% of calves entering its conventional beef supply chain are black and white males, with a further 45% entering the organic beef supply chain.

Waitrose also works with its dairy farmers and leading breeding companies to look at producing a more ‘sustainable’ dairy cow whose male calves could be more suitable for beef. Waitrose explores the possibility of using sexed semen to reduce the number of dairy bull calves being born.

In addition, the Co-op supports the work of the Calf Forum and ASDA subsidises sexed semen for its dairy farmers.

Dairy and beef industry initiatives

The dairy and beef industries are also involved in a wide range of very positive initiatives:

• Compassion in World Farming launched the Good Dairy Award in 2011 and winners include OMSCo, Yeo Valley, Green & Black’s, Ben & Jerry’s, Co-op, Waitrose, Asda; and Laverstoke Park Farm were also awarded for their water buffalo - male buffalo calves experience the same acceptance issues as male calves from the dairy industry. Calf Commendation’s were awarded to Dovecote Park, Brookfield Farm and Sainsbury’s.

• Blade Farming’s Star Sire project promotes a ‘better’ Holstein to farmers. They also encourage dairy farmers to rear their male dairy calves rather than shoot them.

• EBLEX/Dairy Co have launched holsteinbullcalves.co.uk The website reports on calf rearing options and includes guidance on the economic returns for different rearing options to help farmers decide whether to rear their male dairy calves.