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Tuesday, 20 September 2022 15:00

Dealing with the bobbies

Written by  Milking It

OPINION: The dairy industry has been under the spotlight for its bobby calves trade.

Farmers, criticised for sending bobbies off to processing plants, have been urged to look at beef calves as the industry edges towards a 'no bobbies policy'.

However, beef calves have been selling at local saleyards for as little as $10 each, making farmers question whether anyone who thinks they can replace bobby calves with more beef calves has thought this through.

There's also a push by Fonterra and others for bobbies to enter a value stream but farmers are finding it difficult to find a processor which is fully staffed and operating at peak.

The industry needs to stop, take a deep breath and rethink the whole campaign around the future of bobbies.

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