399. Unwanted progeny arise in a number of animal production systems. In the dairy industry, approximately a quarter of cows need to be replaced annually with dairy heifers. With the current target of each cow producing one calf per annum, this results in 75% of calves born (of which two thirds are male pure-bred dairy calves) being surplus to the requirements of the dairy industry. The majority of these animals leave the herd either for beef systems or to the EU calf processing scheme. Surplus calves could be reared for veal production but only approximately 20,000 per annum are likely to be required to supply this market in the medium term.
400. Prior to BSE, about half a million calves were exported annually to the EU to be reared for veal production in crates banned in 1990 in the UK. Currently, similar numbers are being removed from the system by the EU calf slaughter scheme. As we have previously stated, those calves that go to slaughter under the scheme should be slaughtered as near to the point of production as possible; they should not be exposed to unnecessary long distance travel.
401. Problems arising from unwanted progeny in the dairy industry must be addressed and might be overcome in various ways, for example:
a) Adoption of a policy of extended lactation could lead to a reduction in the number of calves produced.
b) The use of sperm selection, with or without embryo transfer, would allow the breed and sex of the calf to be pre-determined. In the short-term, this would reduce greatly the number of pure-bred dairy male calves (which are unsuitable for beef production) and allow more beef-cross males to go for further fattening. Eventually, however, the market for beef-cross males is likely to be over-supplied.
c) Whilst we do not wish to encourage an increase in production in the highest yielding cows, an increase in the yield of average producing animals would result in lower cow numbers and therefore calves.
d) The development of viable markets for veal from welfare-friendly systems.
e) Selective breeding could produce a dual purpose type of animal with both beef and dairy characteristics which would help to reduce the number of unwanted Holstein-type calves.
402. The Government should seek a change to the EU calf slaughter scheme to allow a system of on-farm slaughter to be developed.
403. Methods of reducing the number of surplus calves should be pursued with urgency.