VEAL CALF

NORHAZIRAH ABDUL HALIMUNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

SHW 5101 ANIMAL WELFARE

Traegner, 2011; Compassion in World Farming 2013; RSPCA Australia knowledgebase 2013

Veal Calf

• Veal = meat of calves.

• Most veal comes from male calves of pure-bred dairy cattle.

• The male dairy calves cannot produce milk and are often considered unsuitable for beef production .– by-product

• bob veal – meat from killed calves at age a few days old.

Figure: Lifespans of a fly and a calf.

Veal Calf

Traegner, 2011; Compassion in World Farming 2013; RSPCA Australia knowledgebase 2013

White veal = meat from calves aged eight months or less.

• Calves are fed a low-iron milk based diet to keep their flesh pale in colour. – Low level of iron may cause Anaemia which damages the immune system and

causes calves to be weak, lethargic and probably feel unwell. – Fibrous feed to enable the calf’s rumen to develop normally is not given.– Calves unable to move around actively as their muscles are severely

underdeveloped.

• The calves are typically housed on wooden slats and there is no bedding material after the first two weeks. Fully slatted floors can make standing and lying down extremely uncomfortable for calves. They can cause foot injuries and lameness.

Veal Calf

Compassion USA 2013

Rosé veal = Meat from calves slaughtered when they are 8-12 months old.

• Calves reared for rosé veal are generally fed a more normal diet without restriction of iron intake.

• Although these calves have a healthier diet, they may still be reared in low welfare systems. For example, most of the rosé veal calves are reared in barren systems without bedding.

Veal Calf

Compassion USA 2013

• In most places, veal calves are housed in enclosed buildings which suppose to have proper ventilation, humidity, and temperature regardless of the season.

• Housing should be suitably insulated to protect calves against extreme changes in temperature.

• For biosecurity purpose, it also should be constructed to prevent the entrance of rodents, birds, pets, and other animals which can be potential disease carriers for veal calves.

• Interior exposed walls should be constructed of materials that are easily cleaned and sanitized and that will stand up under repeated washings.

Housing for Intensively Reared Veal Calf

Compassion in World Farming 2013; RSPCA Australia knowledgebase 2013

• The calves cannot move around and cannot lie down comfortably as the individual housing usually are small (about 22" x 54").

• Calves reared in small individual housing have swollen knees.

• Narrow veal crates are banned in UK and within the European Union (EU), but are still used in US and many other countries.

• The crates cause suffering to calves as they cannot turn around and are chained by the neck.

Individual housing - Crates

Compassion in World Farming 2013; RSPCA Australia knowledgebase 2013

v

Figures: Veal calves are chained to their crates, unable to even turn around.

Farm Sanctuary 2013

Individual housing - Crates

• Crates atrophy the calves' muscles, thus producing tender "gourmet" veal.

• Because of such extremely unhealthy living conditions and restricted diets, calves are susceptible to a long list of diseases, including chronic pneumonia and "scours“, or constant diarrhea.

• Consequently, they must be given massive doses of antibiotics and other drugs just to keep them alive.

• The calves often suffer from wounds caused by the constant rubbing against the crates.

Individual housing - Crates

Compassion in World Farming 2013; RSPCA Australia knowledgebase 2013

• The ventilation and humidity control system should be designed to operate properly when the housing is stocked with young calves during any season of the year.

• Research has shown that an effective ventilation system can improve animal comfort and reduce mortality, morbidity, and sickness while increasing weight gain, efficiency, and profit.

Ventilation and Humidity

Smith, 1993

• Most veal calves reared in housing have brief lives and never see the sun.

• They are kept in darkness except for feeding time which is two to three times a day for less than an hour.

Lighting (illuminance)

Peter, 1975, p. 123; PETA 1997

• Calves become susceptible to cold stress when environmental temperature (T) start to drop.

• When the T is within comfort zone (15°C–25°C), the calf will be able to maintain its own body T since the amount of heat the calf produces will be equal to the amount of heat that the calf loses.

• However, when the T drops below the critical T, the calf must produce more heat to maintain its body temperature.

• For a milk-fed calf, the Lower Critical Temp (LCT) is approximately 8°C–10°C, while for a newborn calf, the LCT is between 13°C–20°C.

• As a calf gets older and its level of energy intake increases, the calf develops better heat production capabilities and will have more insulating properties (thicker skin and larger stores of subcutaneous fat).

Temperature

Philp, 2005

Figure: Physiological and metabolic changes in animals associated with changes in environmental temperature.

Temperature

Brody, 1945

• Under moderate environmental temperatures, the calf is equipped to maintain its core body temperature (38.5°C) by using short term and long term regulatory mechanisms.

• As the temperature falls below the LCT, short term and long term responses are activated.

• Short Term Response

• • Hair stands on end.• • Blood vessels leading to the extremities (ears and limbs) constrict.• • Shivering (can greatly increase heat production).

• Long Term Response

• • Change in hair coat.• • Increase in subcutaneous fat.• • Increased metabolic rate.

Temperature

Philp, 2005

• Crate confinement prevents the performance of most of a calves’ natural behaviours including locomotion, resting, sleeping, grooming, circadian rhythms, as well as digestive, reproductive, explorative, and social behaviour.

• The result of the calves’ inability to perform any of their natural behaviours is exhibited by stereotypic movements such as head tossing, head shaking, air chewing, scratching, and kicking. These movements indicate chronic stress.

• Calves which do not have opportunities to suckle tend to spend time licking or sucking either inanimate objects when housed in individually, or other calves when housed in groups.

• Besides, in a desperate effort to ingest iron, a calf may lick his urine off the floor for its inadequate iron content.

Abnormal behaviour

Margerison et al., 2003

• Major causes of calf death include respiratory and digestive infections.

• When the calves’ housings are not cleaned, the calves will lie on their feces and must breath in ammonia gas which causes respiratory disorders.

• When nursing from a cow, calves will ingest 4 to 10 smaller meals while veal calves are usually fed two larger daily meals. These few, large meals may contribute to a higher incidence of abomasal ulcers and to impaired homeostasis of blood metabolites which potentially leading to hyperglycemia and related complications.

• Calves are susceptible to physical injuries, chronic pneumonia and constant diarrhea due to extremely unhealthy living conditions and restricted diets.

Health and Disease

Welchmen and Baust, 1987; McFarlane et al., 1988; Vicari et al., 2008

• Calves have been exported to other countries within 24 hours of their birth, a few days or a few weeks old.

• The calves are often commingled with calves from other farms during transport and may also be commingled at cattle sales or collection points. Transportation and mixing may increase stress and exposure to pathogens, and may contribute to the emergence of clinical signs of respiratory disease.

• Furthermore, the young calves are unable to regulate their body temperature to cope with the extremes of heat and cold during long journeys.

• They often suffer bruising and weight loss as a result of the discomfort of transportation and lack of space and uncomfortable bedding. Many calves become ill or die after they arrive at the rearing farms .

Transportation

Mormede et al., 1982; Grigor et al., 2004; Compassion in World Farming 2013; Compassion USA 2013

• Improper veal calves management may cause air pollution and water pollution due their wastes.

Pollution

Gemperlein, 1987

• In conclusion, the welfare of calves is sacrificed or compromised for the human pleasure. Higher welfare alternatives for veal calf management should be implemented.

Conclusion

Gemperlein, 1987; Compassion in World Farming 2013

References

• American Veterinary Association, Backgrounder: Welfare Implications of the Veal Calf Husbandry, 2008 Oct. 13

• Bokkers, E.A.M., Koene, P. Activity, oral behaviour and slaughter data as welfare indicators in veal claves: a comparison of three housing systems. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2001; 75: 1-15.

• Compassion in World Farming - Veal calves . 2013. Compassion in World Farming - Veal calves . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ciwf.org.uk/farm_animals/cows/veal_calves/. [Accessed 6 December 2013].

• Farm Sanctuary | Album 5 « Gallery 17 « Page 2 « Photo Gallery. 2013. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.farmsanctuary.org/photos/?album=5&gallery=17&nggpage=2#content. [Accessed 17 December 2013].

• Gemperlein, J. 1987. Veal Farms' Neighbors Seek Limits - Philly.com. [ONLINE] Available at: http://articles.philly.com/1987-02-24/news/26177366_1_veal-industry-american-veal-association-pollution-problems. [Accessed 18 December 2013].

• Grigor, P., Cockram, M., Steele, W. A comparison of the welfare and meat quality of veal calves slaughtered on farm with those subjected to transport and lairage. Livestock Prod Sci 2004; 91: 219-228

• Lensink, B.J., Boivin, X., Pradel, P. 2000. Reducing veal calves’ reactivity to people by providing additional human contact. J Anim Sci; 78: 1213-1218.

• Lumley, J. January 2012. Compassion in World Farming - A plea from Joanna Lumley . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ciwf.org.uk/donate/pages/joanna_lumley_live_exports_2.aspx. [Accessed 17 December 2013]

• Margerison, J.K., Preston, T.R., Berry, N. 2003. Cross-sucking and other oral behaviours in calves, and their relation to cow suckling and food provision. Appl Anim Behav Sci 80: 277-286.

• McFarlane, J.M., Morris, G.L., Curtis, S.E. 1988. Some indicators of welfare of crated veal calves on three dietary iron regimens. Journal of Animal Science 66: 317-325.

• Mormede, P., Soissons, J., Bluthe, R.M. 1982. Effect of transportation on blood serum composition, disease incidence, and production traits in young calves. Influence of journey duration. Ann Rech Vet 13: 369-384.

• Palechek, N.P., Schoonderwoerd, M., Perry, A.W. 1987. A case study of respiratory disease in a veal calf operation. Can Vet J 28:363-365.

References

• Peter, S. Animal Liberation, 1975, p. 123.• Philp, L. Publication date: December 2005; last reviewed: 11 August 2008. Feeding Pre-Weaned Veal Calves During Winter Months:

Understanding Calf Metabolism and Milk Replacers - Factsheets. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/veal/facts/05-081.htm. [Accessed 17 December 2013]

• Sargeant, J.M., Blackwell, T.E., Martin, W. 1994. Production practices, calf health and mortality on six white veal farms in Ontario. Can J Vet

Res 58: 180-195. • Smith K.L. 1993. Guide for the Care and Production of Veal Calves, 4th Edition, American Veal Association. Ohio State University Extension.• Traegner, K.D. 2011. Lifespan of flies is longer than calves. Your Daily Vegan. [ONLINE] Available at:

http://www.yourdailyvegan.com/2011/03/23/lifespan-of-flies-is-longer-than-calves/. [Accessed 10 December 2013].• Veal | Liberation BC. 2013. Veal | Liberation BC. [ONLINE] Available at: http://liberationbc.org/issues/veal. [Accessed 6 December 2013].• Veal Calf Management . 2013. American Veterinary Medical Association. [ONLINE] Available at:

https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Veal-Calf-Management.aspx?PF=1. [Accessed 17 December 2013].• Veal : A Cruel Meal. 1997. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.britishmeat.com/veal.html.

[Accessed 17 December 2013].• Vicari T, vanden Borne JJGC, Gerrits WJJ, et al. Postprandial blood hormone and metabolite concentrations influenced by feeding frequency

and feeding level in veal calves. Domestic Anim Endocrinology 2008;34:74-88. • What is veal? - RSPCA Australia knowledgebase. 16 Oct, 2013. What is veal? - RSPCA Australia knowledgebase. [ONLINE] Available at:

http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-is-veal_273.html. [Accessed 16 December 2013].• Welfare issues for calves reared for veal | Compassion USA. 2013. Welfare issues for calves reared for veal | Compassion USA. [ONLINE]

Available at: http://www.ciwf.com/farm-animals/cows/veal-calves/welfare-issues/. [Accessed 16 December 2013].• Welchmen, DdeB, Baust, G.N. 1987. A survey of abomasal ulceration in veal calves. Vet Rec 121: 586-590.

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