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New rules to prevent cruelty to calves in New Zealand dairy farming

Xinhua, June 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

The New Zealand government Friday unveiled new rules on the treatment of bobby calves laws in a bid to enhance the international reputation of its farming sector after recent scandals.

Bobby calves -- the offspring of dairy cows, which have to give birth about once a year to keep them in milk -- are routinely sent from the farm to slaughter at just a few days old.

The new regulations to strengthen the law around the management and treatment of bobby calves were planned to be in place by August before the spring calving season, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said.

"Animal welfare is important not just to animals, but to consumers and our export markets," Guy said in a statement.

"Most farmers care for their animals and do a good job of looking after them. However it's important we have clear rules and enforcement in place."

The changes included requiring that calves be at least four days old and physically fit before they are transported for sale or slaughter, and banning the killing of calves by use of blunt force trauma, except in an emergency situation.

A further set of regulations, to be introduced next year, included requiring calves to be fed at least once in the 24 hours prior to slaughter and requiring that suitable shelter be provided for young calves before and during transportation and at points of sale or slaughter.

The regulations also gave the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) the ability to impose direct fines for lower level offending, and a wider set of offences to undertake formal prosecutions against.

In November last year, MPI launched an investigation into the brutal treatment of bobby calves after video footage was broadcast showing the days-old animals being kicked, thrown and bashed prior to their slaughter.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) welcomed the new rules, but said they did not go far enough to protect bobby calves.

The SPCA believed bobby calves should be at least 10 days old before being transported and should be fed at least eight hours prior to slaughter.

"Bobby calves are neonatal animals that require regular feeds just like any other very young animal. Going without food for 24 hours, of which up to 12 hours may include being transported, may put bobby calves under unnecessary distress," CEO Ric Odom said in a statement. Endit