The document discusses the welfare issues associated with veal calf production. It notes that male dairy calves are often used for veal since they cannot produce milk. Calves may be slaughtered very young ("bob veal") or raised for white or rose veal. White veal calves are restricted in iron and fiber to produce pale meat, while rose veal calves have a healthier diet but may still be raised in barren housing. Calves raised for veal are often confined to small individual crates where they cannot turn around or engage in natural behaviors, which causes suffering. Poor housing, diets, and treatment lead to health issues in veal calves.

1. VEAL CALF
NORHAZIRAH ABDUL HALIM
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
SHW 5101
ANIMAL WELFARE

2. 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

3. • 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. • 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

7. • 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

8. v
Figures: Veal calves are chained to their crates,
unable to even turn around.
Farm Sanctuary 2013
Individual housing - Crates

9. • 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

10. • 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

11. • 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

12. • 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

13. Figure: Physiological and metabolic changes in animals
associated with changes in environmental temperature.
Temperature
Brody, 1945

14. • 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

15. • 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

16. • 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

17. • 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

18. • Improper veal calves management may cause air pollution and water
pollution due their wastes.
Pollution
Gemperlein, 1987

19. • 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

20. 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.

21. 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? - RSPCAAustralia 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.

22. ~THE END~
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