S.P.C.A.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 256, 26 September 1933, Page 10

S.P.C.A.

THE CALF TRADE. The inspector, Mr Maitland, of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, made a tour of the Feilding district as instructed by the executive of the society, and visited the Feilding freezing works, where he witnessed 600 calves unloaded and found out of the number only one dead. Reporting on the inspection he states: “The calves in the J waggons arrived in excellent condition, but those in the L waggons were not so good. This class of waggon for the trade in ‘bobbv 1 calves is not as suitable as the railway J waggon. On the whole, however, the calves were in a very satisfactory, condition. I inspected the’ killing of ‘bobby’ calves and in my opinion at the freezing works the work is performed in a very humane way. The inspector and manager and staff gave me every information, and were very painstaking in explaining the whole system of the trade. I was able to view and inspect the arrival at the works of the calves until slaughtered. I should like to mention that I found everything at the Feildihg freezing works in a very clean condition, and I came away more than satisfied. I will pay a visit to the Oringi (Dannevirke) district at the earliest- opportunity to enquiro into complaints received regarding the calf trade in that district. The custom of some farmers is to feed their calves for four days before transporting them, but other do not. Considering the price paid for the calves it pays to do so as those that have been fed before transport are able to stand up to the journey and arrive at the works in good condition. Only by reforms by Act of Parliament can the trade be improved upon, and a check placed on those who are not acting strictly to the Government regulations. It is in the farmers’ own interest to see that the calves are well fed four days before despatch by rail or road.”