Live Transport of Calves across Europe

Each year, hundreds of thousands of young calves are transported on very long journeys across Europe for continental veal production.

Young calves are particularly vulnerable on long journeys. Their immune systems are not fully developed and they are very susceptible to heat and cold stress.

Research shows that, during and after transport, calves can suffer from:

• heat and cold stress;
• weight loss;
• increased body temperature, heart rate, plasma cortisol and adrenaline;
• fear and physical fatigue;
• increased levels of infection; and
• high mortality rates

EU veal industry

The massive EU veal industry – almost six million calves are reared for veal every year within the EU – is dependent on transporting hundreds of thousands of calves every year.

The Netherlands alone imports almost 500,000 young calves each year for its veal production. Many of these are transported very long distances from Poland, Lithuania, Ireland, and Italy, but also shorter distances from Germany, the Czech Republic, France and until recently from the UK.

Italy and Spain are other major importers of young calves, mainly from Poland, but also from Austria and Germany.

UK transport

Between June 2006 to May 2009, over 150,000 calves were transported from the UK to the continent – some on journeys lasting 50 hours or more.

Belgium and the Netherlands have a voluntary ban on Great British calves due to fears over bovine TB. However calves from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are imported to Europe, often via the UK. This means these young animals suffer long journeys, normally including 2 separate ferry journeys. Many of these calves are destined for intensive veal units in the Netherlands.

We want a permanent end to the export of calves from the UK to the continent, and for UK calves to be reared in the UK to UK standards. Compassion believes this is a better alternative than shooting calves shortly after birth or exporting them to continental veal production.

For more information go to our Calf life – wanted not wasted campaign page.

Compassion in World Farming is also working with the RSPCA, leading farming groups, food industry companies and the government to implement an all-industry voluntary agreement to phase out the live export of calves and and the practice of shooting male calves at birth. All the partners in the Beyond Calf Exports Stakeholder Forum are playing their part to ensure that calves are reared to higher welfare standards for beef and veal in the UK.