Investigation into dairy calf export from Ireland to Europe
On 20th March of this year EFI conducted another investigation into the export of unweaned calves from Ireland, with L214 and Eyes on Animals. We were also joined by RTE’s investigation team, who were conducting research for their ground-breaking exposé Milking It – Dairy’s Dirty Secret that aired on 10th July. If you didn’t see it you can view it here on RTE Player: https://www.rte.ie/player/
We covered the whole journey – essentially from mart to veal farm. Our investigation uncovered cruel treatment and abuse of these young and vulnerable animals, while also revealing that calves are subjected to extended periods of time with no feed, up to as much as 40 hours. Withholding sustenance over a prolonged period is a violation of EC Regulation 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport, and incredibly cruel. We have repeatedly submitted complaints about this over the years, to the Irish authorities and the EU Commission, as have many other NGOs, but they have been ignored.
Poor conditions at Irish marts for young calves
During the investigation we visited several marts and found calves as young as 11 days old being sold for export, for as little as €5. The calves are in very crowded pens, being exposed to all kinds of pathogens, many have no access to water and no straw bedding, with no room to lie down anyway.
It is a noisy and stressful environment, with rough treatment of the young calves when moving them in and out of the auction ring, some calves are exhausted and confused. Some stay overnight before export, others go to dealers yards and assembly centres, where they are exposed to yet more pathogens.
All of this unloading and loading into trucks, and unfamiliar, noisy surroundings with animals from different farms and marts is very stressful for a young calf and puts their health and welfare at high risk.
We traced calves seen at Castleisland and Gortalea marts back to Hallissey assembly centre in Fossa, Kerry. We trailed two Hallissey trucks to Rosslare port that left Fossa at 14:15, for the Stena Line ferry due to leave at 21:00 that evening.
Infant calves endure rough travel conditions
The weather was horrendous and the ferry journey took 19 hours (after leaving 50 minutes late) with 5 meter waves and force 7 winds. Imagine what that was like for the calves on board. L214 and Eyes on Animals picked up the trail at Cherbourg port and followed the Hallissey trucks, amongst many others, to the Pignet control post in Couville.
Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that the calves were loaded onto the Hallissey truck at 12:00. They are normally fed two hours before loading as they need to rest to digest the feed, which means a last feeding time of 10:00. The ferry left nearly 12 hours later. Add on the 19 hour ferry crossing, plus an hour to disembark and get to Couville, along with unloading and waiting time to be fed, and we are looking at a minimum of 34 hours with no feed.
Repeated calf abuse exposed at rest stop in Cherbourg
Investigators had already obtained footage of horrific abuse of young calves at Pignet control post two weeks earlier. This is the third time cruel treatment of young calves has been uncovered at these control posts in Cherbourg, revealing nothing has changed since the first exposure of Tollevast in 2019.
The workers have to deal with around 2,500 exhausted, dehydrated and hungry calves arriving at the same time. They are desperate to get to the feeding stations and are difficult to control, so the workers get impatient with them and beat them with paddles, sometimes using the edge or the end of the stick to really hurt these young animals. They are hit on their backs and heads, they are dragged by their ears and tails, they have gates slammed on them. It is shocking and deeply disturbing to watch.
The Irish authorities have seen this footage. They saw the footage in 2019 and in 2020. Yet they continue to authorise these journeys, knowing full well these calves will be subjected to violent abuse.
The French authorities delayed departure from the control post due to drivers attempting to leave before the required 12 hours resting time. Eventually the trucks left and two Hinde trucks were trailed to a veal farm in the Netherlands. One Hallissey truck was seen later at a veal farm, the other one switched the calves to a Dutch truck to continue the journey.
The final stop – calves imprisoned in appalling veal farms
Investigators obtained footage from one of the veal farms, exposing appalling conditions for the calves – narrow individual pens, bare slatted flooring, no natural light, nothing to do, no ability to carry out any natural behaviours, no quality of life. This is standard for veal farms in the Netherlands.
These fragile animals are as young as 15 days old and dependent on milk or replacer. Their immune system is not developed, they cannot regulate their body temperature effectively and are susceptible to illness. They are trapped in the truck for a minimum of 28 hours, where they cannot be given any nutrition at all, meaning they are deprived of food for 31 – 40 hours.
We tried to ask questions at the marts and at Hallissey assembly centre to ascertain exactly when the calves are fed. We couldn’t get a clear answer from anyone, but were rudely told to clear off. Our estimates are based on loading times entered into the journey logs, that each truck must submit to the DAFM after returning to Ireland.
Please read our report and if you feel as we do, that this abject cruelty has to stop, please email your local TDs, email Minister McConalogue, ask them what they are going to do about this.
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