Following the report published by Eyes on Animals and the TV show Radar about this, the Party for the Animals has filed a motion to further reduce the death rate among male kids and to improve their welfare. Today a majority in the House of Representatives passed the motion.
Eyes on Animals is extremely happy that the motion passed. We hope that for the implementation of this motion, the transportation of these male kids will also be considered. Many male kids are taken to slaughter at just 7 days old and they are then still completely dependent on milk and are not able to withstand the stress of transportation. Eyes on Animals believes that the minimum transportation age should be raised to 4 weeks – not just because they are then more resistant, but also because the dairy goat-farmers are then obliged to take good care of their male kids. Right now goat-farmers that have their male kids slaughtered after 7 days don’t have to make any effort to keep the death rate low. The number of deaths is only registered after 7 days in the I&R and by then the male kids are already gone.
