Option
New scientific report by EFSA recommends housing calves in groups instead of individual boxes - EU Commission is developing new housing guidelines by the end of 2023
That released on March 29th scientific opinions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) criticizes the way calves are kept individually in so-called "calf igloos". Moving away from individual housing is at the heart of the recommendations for the future housing of young calves in the EU.
Group housing instead of individual boxes
The Austrian Animal Welfare Act currently allows calves that are less than eight weeks old to be kept individually. From eight weeks, calves must be housed in groups unless there are fewer than six calves on the farm. In many places, the young calves in particular are therefore housed in individual pens – plastic igloos are often used to protect them from the weather. Although the side walls of the individual boxes should allow eye and touch contact, species- and age-specific behaviors can often not be lived out in individual housing. The EFSA recommendation According to extensive studies: Calves should be kept in groups with 2-7 animals of a similar age immediately after they are separated from their mothers. The space available per animal should also be increased. According to the recommendations, at least 3m² is necessary so that calves can lie relaxed - at least 20m² is needed if play behavior is also to be enabled. Currently, the Animal Welfare Act in the 1st Animal Husbandry Ordinance only provides between 0,96-1,6m² per calf kept in individual pens (depending on age).
Contact with the mother and further recommendations
Most calves from dairy cows are separated from their mothers immediately after birth. This is contrary to animal welfare, as the EFSA report now confirms. Cow mother and calf should be allowed to stay together for at least one day in order to reduce the animals' isolation stress. This has been demanded by animal rights activists for a long time. The provision of sufficient roughage and soft bedding for the calves are further building blocks in the conclusion of the recommendation by the scientists.
Recommendations must flow into laws
The VEREIN AGAINST TIERFABRIKEN was at the EU citizens' initiative "End The Cage Age" involved, which was able to hand over more than 2019 million signatures to the EU Commission in 1,4. It criticized, among other things, the individual housing of calves. By the end of 2023, the final animal welfare reforms at EU level, which are the result of the initiative and the “Farm to Fork” strategy (“From farm to table”) will be presented. The VGT, however, insists on mandatory changes in the law instead of toothless "recommendations".
VGT campaigner Isabell Eckl on this: Using Austria as an example, we can see that important animal welfare concerns must be implemented in strict animal welfare laws instead of in voluntary recommendations. Agricultural animal husbandry, in this case milk production and calf fattening, are subject to the pursuit of profit – the animals must be protected by law, not by the voluntary nature of individual farmers. A ban on keeping calves individually is an enormously important step in the right direction! Putting newborn babies in a box all by themselves is just not okay!
The VGT is constantly on the trail of the fate of Austrian dairy calves and most recently covered the Transports to spanish fattening halls on. On the petition against calf transport: vgt.at/milch
Photo / Video: VGT.
