Monday, 12 March 2018 09:14

Bobby calf deaths down by half for the second year running

Written by 
Bobby calf regulations were introduced in 2016 and deaths continue to drop every year. Bobby calf regulations were introduced in 2016 and deaths continue to drop every year.

The Government is hailing the efforts of the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) in reducing the death of bobby calves on farm.

Associate Minister of Agriculture responsible for animal welfare Meka Whaitiri says the number of bobby calves that die between the farm gate and the works is now down to 6 calves for every 10,000.

That is a victory for our animal welfare regulations, says Whaitiri.

“This improvement is just great to see and represents a lot of hard work done by MPI and the industry to improve the welfare of bobby calves.

“In 2008 the mortality rate was a depressing 68 calves per 10,000 and that prompted changes in the industry that saw that rate start to fall.’

Regulations were introduced in 2016 and deaths continue to drop every year.

Improvements in the mortality rates show that these regulations, alongside the industry’s own initiatives have made a real difference, says Whaitiri.

“The welfare of calves is a collective responsibility so it’s important that we keep up the good work to make sure calves are treated humanely.”

MPI developed the Animal Welfare (Calves) Regulations and implemented four of them in 2016, with the final three regulations coming into force in 2017.

“I am delighted that there is yet another improvement in the mortality rates around bobby calves but we must remain vigilant,” says Whaitiri.

More like this

East Coast Expo delivers two action-packed days of events

The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.

$8b export milestone

Horticulture Minister Nicola Grigg says she takes her hat off to all NZ growers for the hard yards they have put in over the last few years which have resulted in horticulture exports expected to reach the milestone of $8 billion this year.

Featured

Mixed season for Waikato contractors

Last season was a mixed bag for Waikato contractors, with early planted forage maize, planted on the dry soils around Cambridge, doing badly after germination and failing to meet potential, says Jeremy Rothery, Jackson Contracting.

National

Machinery & Products

Gong for NH dealers

New Holland dealers from around Australia and New Zealand came together last month for the Dealer of the Year Awards,…

A true Kiwi ingenuity

The King Cobra raingun continues to have a huge following in the New Zealand market and is also exported to…

Data crucial to managing water

Watermetrics was formed as a water data collector and currently supplies and services modern technology such as flow meters, soil…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Another win

OPINION: Feds Southland 'pres' Jason Herrick and colleagues who continue the good fight against bureaucratic madness on behalf of farmers,…

Bagrie bags banks

OPINION: Noted economist and self-promoter Cameron Bagrie took one look at KPMG's recently released Financial Institutions Performance Survey on banks…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter