NEW REGULATIONS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 226, 20 June 1936, Page 4

NEW REGULATIONS

Sale of Bobby Calves Regulations have been gazetted and are now in force governing the slaughter of bobby calves. In a statement issued yesterday the Department of Agriculture explains that-since the'inception of the boneless veal trade certain objectionable features connected with it have been the cause of concern aud complaint, the complaints being almost wholly associated with the conditions connected with the sale aud exposure of the calves at farms and in their transport.

It is further explained that the regulations 'have resulted from a conference recently called by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. W. Lee Martin, of the principal operators in the trade and departmental officers.

The regulations refer to all calves the live weight of which is less than 1001 b., sold or intended for sale for the purpose of being slaughtered, and provide:— (1) That no person, whether as principal or agent, shall sell or offbr for sale any calf the subject of the regulations unless it has been properly and sufficiently fed daily from birth, and has been so fed not earlier than four hours before the time of its actual removal from his premises. The act of placing any calf to which the regulations apply at or adjacent to any entrance to his land or premises or other customary place at which calves are exposed for sale shall be deemed to be an offer to sell. In any proceedings brought under the regulations the burden of proof shall be on the farmer.

(2) That no person shall purchase, drive, or convey any calf which appears to be unfit

Proceedings for any offence against these regulations may be instituted by any constable or any inspector appointed under the Stock Act or the Slaughtering and Inspection Act or by any person acting on behalf of any society established for the prevention of cruelty to animals. Every person who commits a breach of the regulations is liable to a fine of £5. The departmental officers engaged n meat inspection are also being instructed to raise the standard of inspection insofar as the dressed weight of the calf is concerned, and it is believed that this action will go to assist in ’innroving the condition of the calves supplied. It has also been recognised that the intensive collection of calves has been a contributing factor in poorly nourished calves being transported to the works for slaughter and arrangements have been come to by the companies concerned to limit the overlapping of collections that has taken place i? the past, and to arrange a schedule of collecting days for the respective districts from which calves aro obtained.