Bobby calves: their transport and welfare

Improving the welfare of bobby calves

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and industry groups have been working to improve the welfare of bobby calves that are being transported for processing. We’ve been working with suppliers, farmers, transporters, and processors.

In 2016, we ran a public consultation on proposed animal welfare regulations. The first regulations for young calves came into force on 1 August 2016, with more in February and August 2017. We also did research to better understand the bobby calf welfare situation in New Zealand.

Guide to the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations

Checklist for transporting calves

Calves less than 14 days old, that are leaving the farm for sale or to the meat processor, must be fit for transport and:

be at least 4 full days old (96 hours)
have a dry navel
have firm, worn hooves be able to stand up, walk and bear weight evenly on all 4 limbs
be able to protect themselves from being trampled or injured by other calves be free from injury and birth defects (for example, blindness, contracted tendons) that would mean they cannot withstand the journey
be free from scours or other signs of disease that would mean they cannot withstand the journey.

Loading facilities and shelter for bobby calves

Farmers, sale yards, and meat processors must provide appropriate loading and unloading facilities for calves less than 14 days old.

Loading facilities may take any form – a ramp, a raised platform, a tractor tray, something else – provided they meet the criteria in the regulations. Loading facilities must:

allow calves to walk on and off stock transport vehicles
minimise the risk of a calf injuring itself, becoming distressed, slipping, or falling off.

Calves being transported on trailers and utes with a deck height of less than 900mm can be carefully lifted on.

Calves must have suitable shelter at all stages of the journey – before loading, during transport, and at their destination.

Bobby calves animal welfare leaflet [PDF, 359 KB]

Know the codes of welfare

Suppliers, farmers, transporters, and processors should be familiar with the codes of welfare for:

dairy cattle [PDF, 672 KB]
transport within New Zealand [PDF, 585 KB]

Research to develop calf welfare indicators

Results from the first study

In 2016, we looked at reasons for mortality and morbidity in dairy calves (bobby calves) for slaughter, and potential new welfare indicators. Results were based on observations of calves and information from questionnaires given to farmers, transport operators, and slaughter plant personnel. The research links calf mortality to on-farm management practices, transport, time in calving season, and slaughter schedules. This first study showed dehydration and diarrhoea to be common in bobby calves in lairage. The report includes a literature review as well as the study results.

Bobby calf welfare across the supply chain – first study [PDF, 2.1 MB]

Results from the second study

This final report describes research to validate practical measures to assess dehydration in bobby calves. Results from data collected in 2018 are based on a study with healthy calves over a 24-hour period of food and water deprivation. The research showed that the tested measures (including a skin-pinch test, capillary refill, and core body temperature) can easily be performed by a single operator and may be of practical use in the industry to identify calves with mild-to-moderate dehydration. Food and water deprivation for up to 24 hours induced mild-to-moderate dehydration, but calves remained bright and alert with good sucking reflexes. Diarrhoea may have contributed significantly to the dehydration observed in the Year 1 study.

Bobby calf welfare across the supply chain – final report [PDF, 1 MB]