Editorial: Consumers expect better from farmers

Animal advocacy groups Safe and Farmwatch have aroused much concern with their exposure of the treatment of some newborn calves in the Waikato. Photo / NZME.

The origin of some of our most nutritious food does not bear thinking about. Milk, eggs, even some fruit, are nutrients intended for the young of other species. The fate of the young is of no concern unless it is mammalian and we see it born. Animal advocacy groups Safe and Farmwatch have aroused much concern with their exposure of the treatment of some newborn calves in the Waikato.

It will seem bad enough to most viewers that a calf has to be taken from the cow within a day or so of birth so that the milk can be obtained for human consumption. To mishandle the calf in the manner filmed is a disgrace to the industry. The calf is an unwanted byproduct of dairy farming, to be discarded for the least possible cost to the farm. To that end, it is put in a pen with others to be collected by a truck and taken for slaughter. The calves may wait all day for the truck without food or water, according to those who surreptitiously made the film shown on TVNZ's Sunday programme. Their footage of the emaciated newborns lying in the crate supported the claim.

But worse was to come when the truck arrived and the calves were picked up and thrown into it as though they were already worthless carcasses. They received the same treatment at the end of the journey, being thrown from the truck on to the concrete floor of the slaughterhouse. Mercifully the mode of slaughter was not shown.

The two animal welfare groups plan to take their film to New Zealand's dairy markets overseas. Their stated purpose is not just to bring about more humane practices in the industry but to discourage consumption of dairy products. "Contrary to the claims of the industry," they say, "dairy is not essential for good health." An industry under scrutiny by groups such as these ought to be ensuring its practices are beyond reasonable reproach.

They say their film footage was first supplied to the Ministry of Primary Industries but no action seems to have been taken. A ministry spokesman who spoke to the Sunday programme said they were investigating but he was not going to say anything about the investigation's procedures. Why not? His stonewalling suggested to some that nothing is being done.

Many farming people may dismiss this concern as the sensitivity of city dwellers who want to enjoy their latte untroubled by the harsh realities of life and death for the stock that produce their sustenance. But the sensitivities of consumers is as much a harsh reality for farmers as the culling of animals or any other necessary part of their business.

Their consumers can reasonably expect that day-old calves are treated with care in the few days remaining for them. Water and a little of their mother's milk could surely be spared for them, along with shelter and shade while they wait and gentle handling to the end. Perhaps most farmers and transporters provide these; the film-makers may have found rare cases of cruelty. Either way, the culprits should be prosecuted. They have let the country down.

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