Dairy processors have ramped up the pressure on milk suppliers involved in the slaughter of young calves.

The country’s top creameries told the Irish Farmers Journal that a tough line will be taken this spring on the slaughter of healthy calves by farmers.

This move follows Bord Bia’s confirmation that farms suspected of slaughtering young calves over the last few years are to be red-flagged for audits.

Farmers are prohibited from slaughtering healthy calves under eight weeks of age under new rules which have been incorporated into Bord Bia’s Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS).

Bord Bia pointed out that any farmer found to have slaughtered healthy calves this spring will be required to implement a calf breeding and management plan.

“That farm will then be subject to an audit within the following 12 months. If that supplier is found to be in breach of the criteria again (in relation to calf slaughter), then their SDAS certification may be suspended. However, each case will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis,” a spokesperson for Bord Bia said.

New rules

In light of the new Bord Bia rules, the country’s main dairy processors have warned farmers that they risked non-collection of their milk if they slaughtered healthy calves and put their SDAS certification in jeopardy.

“Tirlán’s 2024 milk purchasing policy states that non-conformances raised in relation to the new criteria during the SDAS audit will require a ‘calf breeding and management plan’ to be put in place and implemented,” the co-op pointed out.

“Failure by a supplier to adhere to their calf breeding and management plan will result in non-compliance under SDAS. Non-compliant suppliers will lose SDAS certification and milk will not be collected,” Tirlán insisted.

Dairygold is also applying the new Bord Bia rules.

Other co-ops

“Dairygold supports full enforcement by the relevant authorities to address any breach of SDAS regulation in relation to animal welfare and this is reflected in Dairygold’s milk purchasing terms and conditions,” a spokesman said.

Aurivo was even more forthright in its response.

“Aurivo suppliers must be SDAS certified and meet DAFM standards to ensure milk collection. If farms do not meet the required standards, sanctions including suspension of milk collection will apply,” the western-based co-op stated.

Lakeland Dairies insisted that all milk supplies must be SDAS certified and that failure to comply with SDAS requirements “will result in the non-collection of milk”.

Kerry Group maintained that all milk suppliers are required to abide by the company’s milk supply regulations.

Close to 31,000 healthy newborn calves were slaughtered in 2023. This equates to around 1.3% of all calves born and 2% of dairy calves.