Teagasc vets and researchers are undertaking a research project to establish baseline data on the health, welfare and behaviour of Irish calves undergoing intra-community trade, by boat or plane.
Irish livestock, including calves, are transported within the EU to destinations on mainland Europe as part of routine intra-community trade. Given that Ireland is an island nation, this has always involved transport by ferry or flight.
Teagasc has said that international research has shown that long-distance transport per se does not seriously impact calf welfare, though sub-optimal feeding, watering and management strategies during transport will have an impact.
‘Moove’ project
‘Moove’ is a joint project between Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
It has been specifically designed to generate vital baseline data, upon which, best-practice recommendations in support of optimal calf welfare and environmentally sustainable transport of calves to EU destinations can be based.
All methods of transport, including air transport, will be studied to see if they present opportunities to improve calf welfare.
The project will assess the existing welfare status of calves before, during and post-transport from Ireland to destination farms within the EU.
Teagasc has advertised the tender ‘Request for Information’ (RFI) for a trial charter flight for calf transport and the deadline for expressions of interest is 5:00pm on November 16, 2020.
The first flight is expected to take place between March 1, 2021 and April 30, 2021, depending on the response to the tender.
Meeting with agriculture minister
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue recently met with stakeholders involved in the export of calves.
The minister told AgriLand that he recognised that the export of live animals is an “important part of Ireland’s livestock industry; stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers.”
The minister advised those in the meeting that the Department of Agriculture facilitates this trade, “recognising its critical importance to the agri-sector, while ensuring that live animal exports meet the highest welfare standards”.
He added that both he and his department are “fully committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure these standards are upheld”.