BOBBY CALF TRADE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 31, 31 October 1929, Page 13

BOBBY CALF TRADE

Sir, —As a member of' the S.P.C.A. J have followed with the keenest interest the development of the "bobby calf” traffic. It is true, that improvements have been effected since the time when our inspector found one-third of the calves in the bottom of a truck, with the others trampling on them. Even last. season our officers reported fresh dropped calves included in consignments which had travelled long distances by rail. We were assured by the Minister of Agriculture that during the season just closing conditions have been still further improved. Although thus quite conversant with all that can be’ said in favour of this boneless veal industry, I am in full accord with your correspondent “Humanity Martin” in holding that the business is absolutely unjustifiable. On the ground of humanity alone it is surely deplorable that every season hundreds of thousands of these'poor little creatures of five days old should be subjected to so much avoidable suffering. They are tied up. often without shelter, at the farm gates to await the lorry which conveys them to the railhead. Thence they travel, sometimes, in covered trucks, any distance up. to 180 miles to the freezing works, where, should they arrive after working hours, they must await slaughter next day. Manifestly they must be without nourishment during the whole of this period. If this were not a sufficient indictment the traffic may be condemned on another ground also. A regulation exists in New Zealand forbidding the sale for human consumption of any carcass of veal the dressed weight Of which is (less than 601 b., and occasionally we read of prosecutions for the infringement of this rule. The dairy calf of Jersey strain is small and may be anything from 14 to 21 days okj before attaining the prescribed weight. Apparently in this case what is sauce for the goose is deemed by ourlpaternal Government to be altogether unsuitable for the gander.—l am, etc., “BOS.” Wellington, October 20.