Irish dairy farmers have been urged to continue to put a very strong focus on the health and welfare of their animals by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed.

In a letter sent to dairy farmers across the country earlier this month, the minister highlighted that calves that are not dairy replacements must be looked after as well as those that are.

In the letter sent to farmers, Minister Creed said: “The way that Irish farmers care for their animals is evident in the quality of our stock and our produce. It is farmers who make the critical decision when it comes to the health and welfare of their animals and when it comes to breeding, and this is generally done to a very high standard in Ireland.”

“As the majority of animals born on dairy farms are not needed as dairy replacement stock and are often moved off the farm of birth at a young age, it is really important that these animals are as well looked after as those being retained, so that they may be successfully marketed/traded to other livestock sectors,” he stressed.

The minister added that high calf welfare standards must also be maintained in livestock marts, by transport operators and in lairage facilities.

“In this context, all stakeholders in the dairy sector must play their part in ensuring the welfare of calves,” Minister Creed said.

Concluding, the minister said that the department will “continue to deploy its inspectors to undertake the statutorily required risk-based animal welfare inspections at relevant locations”, adding that he has also made funding available to assist with calf rearing.