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One of the larger milk processors in the UK, Arla, has told suppliers no bull calves are to be euthanised on farm from December 2020, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.
The move is in response to an increase in young calf euthanasia on farms in the UK. Up to 50,000 bull calves are euthanised on UK farms annually.
In Ireland, 3% of dairy farms sell some of their calves to Department-approved factories at less than 20 days old while over 180,000 calves are exported.
Teagasc and AHI are to start a new calf welfare initiative in the near future.
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