For cows to produce milk, they have to give birth to a calf. Most dairy calves are separated from their mother within 24 hours of birth to reduce the risk of disease transmission to the calf, and most do not stay on the farm for long.
The term ‘bobby calves’ refers to newborn calves that are less than 30 days old and not with their mothers. Essentially, they are surplus to dairy industry requirements as they are not suitable or required for the milking herd. This applies to all bull calves (males) and about one quarter of heifer calves (females) born each year. And, each year, at least 400,000 of these bobby calves are destined for slaughter.
Some calves will be reared for veal and about three quarters of the heifers will become replacements for adult milk-producing cows. Heifer calves may also be reared and then exported to dairy farms overseas. Bobby calves may also be killed on farm. This may be done using a captive bolt device or blunt force trauma. Blunt force trauma is not acceptable for killing young calves due to the calf’s skull being too hard to achieve immediate unconsciousness through destruction of brain tissue. Blunt force trauma relies on correct and effective application each and every time for it to be humane. Operator fatigue and unreliability are a serious welfare issue for the animal concerned, while persons carrying out blunt force trauma also find it unpleasant.
Bobby calves destined for slaughter are housed together on farm and fed colostrum, milk or milk replacer, usually only once a day. Bobby calves, because of their low value, often do not get the same standard of housing, cleanliness, care or attention as the valuable replacement heifers or the calves being reared for veal or beef. For their health and welfare, bobby calves should be fed at least twice a day with sufficient quantity of milk and be housed in sheltered, clean and dry environments with room to lie down on suitable bedding.
Transport requirements for bobby calves state that they must be at least five days old before they can be transported to the abattoir. Because they are so young, bobby calves have the following specific animal welfare issues when they are being transported to slaughter:
- Like all young animals, they have underdeveloped ‘following’ behaviour, which means that they do not stay together as a group and move to where they are supposed to go. This makes moving and loading/unloading difficult and can lead to rough handling.
- They are too young to handle the stress, motion and length of transport.
- During transport and at calf sales, they are exposed to the elements, are not provided with bedding and often have little room to lie down.
- They are too young to be without milk for extended times.
Calves should be handled humanely at all times so they do not become injured or distressed. This means no rough handling, prodding, use of dogs or electric prodders.
Once at the abattoir, young bobby calves are penned (usually overnight) to await slaughter first thing in the morning. All this time they will not have access to liquid feed, they will not be provided with bedding and they will be without their mothers.
Products from processed bobby calves include young veal for human consumption, valuable hides for leather, calf rennet for cheese making, and byproducts for the pharmaceutical industry.
The RSPCA believes that bobby calves should be at least 10 days old and be fed at least four hours before being transported. Transport to the abattoir should be no more than 10hours and in trucks that have protection from the elements, bedding and enough room for all calves to lie down.
To avoid or reduce the welfare concerns relating to bobby calves, the RSPCA position is that if bobby calves cannot be euthanased on farm (to avoid the welfare issues associated with handling and transport), they should be at least 10 days old before being transported off farm and then slaughtered within 12 hours of last feed.
Raising excess dairy calves for veal or beef is one way in which the value of an animal that would otherwise be destined for slaughter at five days old can be increased. By increasing their value and providing an alternative market, there is real potential to improve the welfare of bobby calves.
FAQs
Some calves will be reared for veal and about three quarters of the heifers will become replacements for adult milk-producing cows. Heifer calves may also be reared and then exported to dairy farms overseas. Bobby calves may also be killed on farm. This may be done using a captive bolt device or blunt force trauma.
What happens to Bobby calves? ›
Calves that are not needed for milk production or those that aren't reared for veal or beef are known as bobby calves. These mostly male calves are sent to a saleyard or abattoir at five days or older. Many of these calves are used for veal for food products or hides for leather goods.
What happens to male calves on this farm? ›
Male calves are often considered entirely disposable by the dairy industry, though some farms are equipped to exploit them for other purposes. Regardless, no male calf will live beyond the age of a couple of years before being killed—and in some cases, this bloody end can come within the first few hours of life.
What happens to the calves of dairy cows in Australia? ›
Unwanted calves are 'waste products'
From as young as 5 days old, they can be loaded onto trucks and sent to saleyards or slaughterhouses. Every year, the dairy industry in Australia takes hundreds of thousands of calves like him from their mums and sends them to the slaughterhouse or saleyards.
What happens to calves when they are born? ›
A few hours after birth, the calf is usually moved to its own individual pen. This best practice is essential for the health of the calf for several reasons: This ensures the best individual care and monitoring of both animals, especially in the first 24 hours, because it's not uncommon for cows to ignore their calves.
What happens to cow's milk if a calf died? ›
Cows with a stillbirth ruminate, lay, and drink less than cows with an alive calf. Primiparous dairy cows with a stillbirth have higher serum and hair cortisol. A stillbirth affects negatively milk yield and quality up to 9 months of lactation.
What to do with Bobby calves? ›
Some calves will be reared for veal and about three quarters of the heifers will become replacements for adult milk-producing cows. Heifer calves may also be reared and then exported to dairy farms overseas. Bobby calves may also be killed on farm. This may be done using a captive bolt device or blunt force trauma.
What is a bobby calf? ›
noun. , British, Australian. a calf no more than a week old that is sent to be slaughtered.
What are bobby calves in New Zealand? ›
Bobby calves are young, usually male dairy calves that are seen as a surplus to requirement and are sent to slaughter soon after birth.
What do farmers do with dead calves? ›
Burial, burning, composting, landfill or rendering are all options for disposal. Animals that were euthanized using drugs may need to be treated differently than animals that died naturally on the farm. Drugs used for euthanasia can harm the environment or kill animals that scavenge on carcasses.
The female counterpart to a bull is a cow, while a male of the species that has been castrated is a steer, ox, or bullock, although in North America, this last term refers to a young bull. Use of these terms varies considerably with area and dialect.
Where do the calves go on a dairy farm? ›
Once separated from the cow, calves are fed milk or milk replacer and these preweaned calves can be housed individually or in groups. In the USA, for example, 69.7% of dairy operations housed preweaned calves individually (USDA, 2016). Individual housing systems include hutches and individual pens within barns.
What happens to female calves in the dairy industry? ›
What happens to female calves? A female calf born to a dairy cow is used in the dairy industry. She will be taken from her mother to be raised elsewhere on formula milk or cow's milk (whilst her mother's milk is bottled and sold for humans to stir into their hot drinks and pour onto their breakfast cereal).
Why do they take calves away from cows? ›
By separating cow and calf early, the farmer can ensure that the calf receives adequate colostrum (the first milk which is important for calf health).
What do dairy farms do with male calves? ›
Male calves that are then raised for veal or dairy beef may continue to be reared individually, or alternatively, placed into groups.
What happens to old dairy cows? ›
What Happens to Milk Cows When They Get Old? Cows who are used for their milk are typically killed before they get old. When these cows are considered “spent,” they are turned into hamburger meat. About 20 percent of the beef consumed by humans in the U.S. comes from slaughtered dairy cows.
Why do cows have stillborn calves? ›
Dystocia and stillbirths are more likely to occur in first-calf heifers because of a small pelvic area, and in cows that are overly conditioned or too thin. Proper vitamin and mineral intake also is essential for placental and fetal development.
What happens to calves born to dairy cows? ›
Most female calves will be reared to join the milking herd but as male calves cannot produce milk, they are considered surplus to the dairy industry. Male calves will either be shot after birth, or sold to be reared for veal or beef.
Do cows feel pain if not milked? ›
If the cow is producing very little (less than 5 kg/day) when milking stops there are no problems; this is the normal way of 'drying off'. If the cow has recently calved and is producing a lot of milk then the pressure would be exceedingly uncomfortable and infection could occur. (Dr) D. J.
Do cows cry when their calves are taken? ›
Effect on the mother cow
Just like for humans, pregnancy for cows lasts nine months. That's nine months of eating for two and preparing for motherhood. When a mother cow loses her young, understandably, she mourns. Farmers admit cows often "cry for days" after their babies are taken away.
Most stomach-derived rennet is taken from the fourth stomach of young, unweaned calves. These animals are not killed expressly for their rennet; rather they are killed for meat production (in this case, veal) and the rennet is a byproduct.
How many Bobby calves are killed each year in NZ? ›
Last year in Aotearoa New Zealand 1,872,815 bobby calves were killed at slaughterhouses across the country.
What happens to rodeo calves? ›
And while rodeos have ambulances and paramedics on-site to care for injured cowboys, the vast majority of baby calves either die from their injuries or are killed for human consumption, shipped directly to slaughterhouses. As prey animals, calves try not to let on when they are hurt.
Do calves get butchered? ›
3,4,5,6 These calves are restricted from moving and spend their lives in small stalls or hutches. They are slaughtered at 18 to 20 weeks of age. Calves can be so crippled from confinement that they have to be helped into the truck or trailer on the way to the slaughter plant.
