Second joint complaint to Minister for violations of EU legislation

Shipment of pregnant dairy heifers to Algeria – joint complaint sent to Minister

On 24th January 2024 Agriland published a video covering the first shipment of in-calf dairy heifers from Waterford to Algeria by cows.ie . It showed trucks waiting at Oran port ready to load the heifers, that were not at all suitable for transporting livestock and were not in line with EU legislation.

The Finola M departed Waterford Port on 5th January 2024 and arrived at Oran Port Algers on 10th January where 821 heifers were unloaded. The vessel then continued on to Algiers port where the rest of the heifers were unloaded three days later. The video didn’t show any of the heifers unloading (which was telling)) but showed a ramp with a truck waiting at the bottom ready to load the heifers. It is a small truck with no roof and open sides with bars that look wide enough apart for limbs to get stuck through. It looked more like an industrial vehicle, not suitable for carrying livestock and certainly would not be approved for use in any Member State. We do not know how long the heifers were transported for in these trucks, but it could have been for many hours.

This is in breach of EC Regulation 1/2005 on the protection of animals during long distance transport and a joint complaint was submitted to Minister McConalogue, no response has been received.

On 15th January 2025 a second shipment containing 1967 pregnant dairy heifers left Waterford port for Algeria in livestock vessel Shorthorn Express. There was no video this time, but documents received under the Freedom of Information Act showed that two heifers died, and two calved. We don’t know if the calves survived or not. Also when a pregnant cow dies, the calf doesn’t die straight away. The calf dies eventually from lack of oxygen and nutrients, it could be within minutes, or it could take much longer. As the umbilical cord is compromised circulation stops, leading to fetal distress and death. The calf can suffer significantly even before the mother’s death, if she’s in extreme distress. Neither calf nor mother should be placed in this high risk situation. Chapter I, 2(c) of Annex I of EC Regulation 1/2005 states that pregnant females for whom 90 % or more of the expected gestation period has already passed should not be transported as they are not fit for transport. Article 15 of Regulation 1/2005 requires that checks at the place of departure for fitness for transport are performed by the competent authority prior to loading. This raises questions as to how the DAFM veterinary inspectors verified that less than 90% of the expected gestation period had passed for all of the in-calf heifers on board, and whether they did so accurately. It is most concerning that two of the heifers calved within a few days of being passed fit for transport by DAFM staff.

Third shipment to Algeria; second joint complaint

On 15th November a third shipment of in-calf dairy heifers left Waterford Port for Algeria in livestock vessel Alondra, this time with the exporter onboard making his own PR video. We managed to get footage of the loading of the heifers at the port. Some looked lame, some looked heavily in calf. Many were reluctant to go up the ramp and enter the vessel.

The exporter’s videos (he posted 5 of them) included very lttle footage of the cows, but were more focused on the exporter in his cabin looking decidely ill. He commented that he hadn’t found his sea legs. Well imagine how the heavily pregant heifers felt. Once again the footage taken at the destination port did not show the animals unloading (what was he hiding?) but showed heifers being loaded into and travelling in completely unsuitable trucks, the same as in previous shipments. Another joint complaint has been submitted. We also expressed concerns about the shipment where two heifers gave birth during the sea journey and two died, as well as the horrendous slaughter that these heifers and their calves will eventually face. You can read the full letter here.

European Court of Justice ruling: Regulations apply until the final destination

So how is legislation being breached? Under the European Court of Justice Zuchtvieh ruling (Case C–424/13), EC Regulation 1/2005 must be complied with until the final destination is reached, including for transport outside the EU. The final destination is the farm or slaughterhouse, not the port. It is clear from the Zuchtvieh judgment that only road vehicles that comply with the technical requirements set out in Chapter II of Annex I to Regulation 1/2005 should be used to transport animals. By approving these sea journeys, the above mentioned Court of Justice Zuchtvieh ruling is not being taken into account.

Inhumane slaughter

The slaughter conditions in the importing third countries are cruel and do not respect the international standards on welfare at slaughter of the World Organisation for Animal Health and would be illegal if carried out in the EU. Methods include gouging eyes, hoisting up by a hind leg, slashing tendons, hitting over the head, and their throats are often cut with blunt knives. The animals’ agony can last up to 30 minutes. A recent investigation by Austrian journalists trailed dairy cows exported to Algeria from Austria, right to the slaughterhouse, where equally cruel practices were followed.

All of these heifers being exported, and their offspring, will end up being butchered in an inhumane way. Approving the export of bulls and heifers to countries using cruel slaughter practises, raises serious animal welfare concerns and is in breach of Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU which requires Member States when formulating and implementing their policies on animal welfare to “pay full regards to the welfare requirements of animals”.
It is apparent from the video footage linked in this letter that these animals being exported to third countries are at risk of injury and suffering, and the risks far outweigh any benefits. Understanding Ireland’s commitment to animal welfare, we believe these shipments should not be continued and that Ireland should focus on the export of beef and dairy rather than live animals. Given that dairy exports to Algeria are worth around €100 million a year, exporting heifers to boost their dairy industry seems somewhat counterproductive.

Dairy heifers sent on long journeys to Libya

In January 2025 117 dairy heifers were exported to Libya. We know this from the live export figures that are available on the DAFM website. We don’t know if they were pregnant, we asked the question but didn’t get an answer. But given that they were all nearly two years old they more than likely were. They were transported by truck and ferry to southern Spain where we assume they joined a shipment from Cartagena Port to Libya.  When they are exported this way they can travel on substandard vessels, as Ireland has stricter rules than other member states. It’s a way of getting round our more stringent legislation.

The paper trail ends at the departure port in Spain. In fact the journey logs don’t name the port, or the livestock vessel used. DAFM has no idea if these animals even made it alive. It’s absolutely shocking and makes a mockery of the so called highly regulated industry. We obtained the journey logs and health certificates under the Freedom of Information Act. There is no mention of Libya on the journey log, as far as anyone would know those animals were exported to Spain.

Unweaned female dairy calves exported to Libya

The live export figures also showed us that last year unweaned dairy calves were exported to Libya. They travelled by truck to Belgium then continued the journey by plane. Libya is a water scarce country with appalling animal welfare standards. It is truly abhorrent.

Pregnant and unweaned animals are especially vulnerable and sending them on long journeys is putting their health and welfare at risk. Putting them through the stresses of a journey to North Africa is abject cruelty and must be stopped.