On 18 March, we paid an unannounced visit to the calf market in Leeuwarden. We were immediately welcomed and, as always, given the opportunity to observe the calves.
The market appeared well organised: calves were housed in groups, there was plenty of clean straw, and the handling of the animals was calm. We also observed good practices, such as drivers placing straw on the loading ramp to make disembarking less stressful for the calves.
However, we remain concerned about a structural issue: unweaned calves often go without milk for 24 hours or more. Most calves are collected from dairy farms in the morning, arrive at the market in the early afternoon, and are not transported to the veal farm until after midnight. On the morning of departure (at the dairy farm), many of them are given only water. At the market, only an electrolyte mix is provided, and at the veal farm, they usually receive electrolytes again. Milk – the main source of nutrition on which unweaned calves are fully dependent – is thus absent for an extended period.
Research shows that withholding feed for such long periods has a significant negative impact on calves’ health, welfare, and growth.
In addition, some calves did not come directly from a dairy farm but from another assembly centre. For these animals, the total period without milk is even longer. We also observed calves at the market that were only 13 days old.
We advised the market management to:
- shorten the time calves spend at the market;
- or provide milk at the end of the afternoon;
- stop the transfer (‘hopping’) of calves between assembly centres;
- and improve unloading safety by using solid fences instead of open railings.
The market management took our concerns seriously and indicated that these points would be discussed at the upcoming members’ meeting. We appreciate the openness of the dialogue and would like to thank the staff for the warm welcome and the good care provided at the market.
