In order to produce milk continuously, dairy cows have to give birth to a calf every year. Most baby (‘bobby’) calves are separated from their mothers within 12 hours of birth. Every year 700,000 calves as young as five days old are sold, to be killed and processed as young veal for human consumption, hides for leather and pharmaceutical byproducts. (Source: Animals Australia)
The RSPCA has campaigned against an industry proposal to let calves heading for slaughter go unfed as a cost cutting means.
See Age article from 13th October, 2013 ‘Call for better life for dairy’s rejects‘ which outlines the week in a life of a bobby calf.
* Also see why we haven’t included Bobby Calves as an ‘Industry Alert’. FAQ
Things you can do:
- Consider reducing or removing dairy from your diet. See Product alternatives
- Find out more about this: RSPCA’s ‘What happens to Bobby calves’
- Choose products from companies that have animal welfare on their agenda, such as Elgaar Farms, a biodynamic farm in Tasmania. See Elgaar Farms’ response as to their Animal Welfare practices
- Campaign on this issue: Animals Australia
