In March 2024, a joint investigation by Ethical Farming Ireland, Eyes on Animals, Dier&Recht, and L214 uncovered continued abuse of unweaned Irish calves during transport to Europe. Despite numerous reports and promises of reform, calves are still being deprived of milk for dangerously long periods and subjected to harsh physical treatment by handlers -both in clear violation of EU Council Regulations. These findings highlight ongoing failures in animal welfare enforcement, revealing a disturbing pattern of neglect and cruelty that persists year after year.
Feeding intervals violated: a persistent welfare issue
Our investigation documented that unweaned calves were deprived of food (milk) for over 30 hours during their journey from Irish assembly centers to French control posts. This blatant violation of EU Council Regulation No 1/2005, which stipulates a maximum feeding interval of 19 hours (and even 9 hours “if needed”), has been a recurring issue for over a decade. Despite our yearly reports, this serious violation of the mandatory feeding intervals for unweaned calves remain unaddressed, demonstrating a systemic failure to protect the welfare of these young animals.
Second round of starvation: transport to Poland
The neglect of Irish calves does not end at the French control posts where they are unloaded to “rest” before resuming their journey. One of the trucks we trailed resumed its journey to a control post in Belgium. There, the calves were unloaded and rested for 24 hours. However, they did not receive the required milk; instead, they were only provided with energy drinks. With empty stomachs, these calves were then transported onward to Poland. In total, they endured over 48 hours without milk. This constitutes a serious violation of EU animal welfare regulations, for which the control post owner is directly responsible.
Newly uncovered: physical abuse and neglect of calves at Irish assembly center
At an assembly center in Ireland, young calves underwent physical abuse and neglect. Calves were hit, dragged by their ears and tails, and those too weak were force-fed and injected rather than rejected from export. Piles of dead calves found decomposing on-site underscore the severe stress, poor conditions and foul attitude towards these animals before their export journey even begins.
Inadequate watering systems: basic needs unmet
We also found that water systems on trucks were inadequate, leaving unweaned calves without proper hydration during transport. Drivers failed to activate these systems, breaching EU regulations and further endangering the calves’ well-being.
False journey logs: deception continues
Transport companies continue to falsify journey logs, submitting records with missing, incorrect, or entirely fabricated data. This falsification creates a misleading picture of compliance and allows the ongoing neglect of animal welfare standards. Authorities appear complicit by failing to thoroughly check these logs or enforce regulations, allowing these inhumane practices to continue.
Urgent need for action: violations persist despite promises
This latest investigation highlights a continued pattern of abuse, starvation, and neglect at each phase in the transport of unweaned calves from Ireland to farms on the mainland of the EU, echoing the findings of our previous investigations. Despite extensive media coverage, and repeated promises from the industry and authorities, meaningful change remains elusive. We call for a complete halt to the transport of unweaned calves under 8 weeks old, as their immune systems are not yet fully developed and they remain highly dependent on milk, which cannot be provided during transport. We also urge stricter enforcement of existing regulations, as authorities have so far failed in their duty to protect these vulnerable animals.
Without decisive action and accountability, the ongoing violations of feeding intervals, falsified records, and inhumane treatment will persist. Authorities and industry leaders must finally confront these chronic issues and commit to protecting the welfare of vulnerable calves, ending the cycle of cruelty that has plagued this trade for far too long.
For the full details of our investigation, read our report here >>
UPDATE
On October 8th, the Irish investigative program “RTE”, aired a powerful and disturbing documentary using our findings to highlight ongoing violations. Their documentary also revealed that an increasing number of calves are being exported to countries like Poland and Romania, where they are often fattened under deplorable conditions. After this period, calves are frequently shipped to countries such as Israel and Libya for slaughter. The conditions on the transport trucks and ferries are unimaginable, and the barbaric slaughter methods are equally appalling, with animals having their throats slit while fully conscious.
You can watch the full RTE documentary here >>
