New poll reveals 84% of Irish citizens want the export of unweaned calves banned!
A new survey, conducted across nine EU member states, has highlighted public concern for the plight of millions of animals transported over long distances, with an overwhelming majority supporting the need for stricter rules!
82% of citizens across the EU are concerned about the welfare of animals during live transport, the new survey concludes, as EU regulation remains at risk of being weakened and leaving millions of animals unprotected.
The survey, conducted across nine EU member states, has highlighted public concern for the plight of millions of animals transported over long distances, with an overwhelming majority supporting the need for stricter rules!
80% of Irish citizens have concerns about the welfare of animals during live transport, with 79% agreeing that long-distance journeys cause unnecessary suffering to animals.
We have been highlighting the plight of unweaned dairy calves for years – the transport from Ireland to France involves an 18 hour ferry journey during which the calves, as young as 15 days old, cannot be fed which is incredibly cruel, and in breach of legislation. We are glad to see that 84% of Irish citizens agree with us. Studies have shown that the calves suffer from dehydration, low energy, muscle fatigue and hypoglycaemia – these journeys must be stopped.
As the fourth shipment of pregnant dairy heifers recently arrived in Algeria, 85% of Irish citizens state they support stricter rules or a ban on the transport of pregnant animals altogether. They are right to be concerned – in January 2025, during the second shipment to Algeria, two heifers died and two aborted their calves. There was no vet on board. During the third shipment last November one heifer aborted her calf, believed to be 7 months old. At least there was a vet on board this time but this is not usually the case. It is clear that pregnant animals, that are particularly vulnerable, should not be sent on these long journeys.
Each year, over one billion animals from the EU are transported on journeys lasting up to three weeks.
90% of Irish citizens agree that transporting animals in extreme hot or cold conditions poses a risk to their welfare. Within the EU, animals often endure temperatures in excess of 50 degrees. Last August a prominent Irish transporter was trailed by an animal welfare NGO in Italy at a time when there was a heatwave in Europe with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in France and Italy, through which the truck travelled. Journeys are not supposed to be approved by DAFM when temperatures are predicted to be over 30 degrees at any point during the route. A complaint was submitted.
It’s no wonder that just 39% of Irish citizens are confident that the authorities effectively enforce the rules. We are continuously highlighting breaches of EU legislation and DAFM’s own stricter rules. The European Commission has supported our claims that the export of unweaned calves is being conducted in breach of legislation, as the 19 hour maximum limit for feeding is not met. We have written numerous letters of complaint to the various Ministers about the sea journeys: from shipments leaving in stormy weather to unsuitable trucks being used in the destination countries. Our complaints have resulted in four livestock vessels having their licences revoked – three in 2020 and one just last year. We are doing the work that DAFM should be doing.
These survey results emerge as the European Parliament is reviewing the Transport Regulation, yet proposed amendments have raised significant concerns among animal welfare advocates, as some proposals may significantly undermine the welfare of animals. 72% of survey participants expressed concern about the potential weakening of the EU’s live animal transport rules, and the same percentage expressed strong support for stricter national and EU laws. Meanwhile, over 12,000 citizens have written to their MEPs urging ambitious reforms.
- 80% of Irish citizens have at least some awareness of live transport
- 71% support stricter national and EU rules
- 67% support higher welfare even if it means an increase in price and a reduction in availability
The survey by Savanta interviewed 8,531 adults between October and November 2025 across Belgium, Cyprus, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain.
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