Eduard, the Eyes on Animals' welfare auditor of dairy farms producing for Kalverliefde (Dutch organic dairy farms where calves are kept longer with mothers, in a herd, instead of kept alone in igloos or small individual pens) gave his talk today at the Caring Congress in Wageningen, NL. He was one of three speakers in the session on dairy. It was an inspiring morning … [Read more...] about EonA gives a talk at Caring Congress in NL about our work as auditor of Kalverliefde (calf-at-foot) dairy
dairy farming
Sixth meeting in Brussels with ‘calf-welfare group’ to advise Flemish Minister of Animal Welfare
Animal welfare sounds so straightforward, it should indeed be the most natural thing in the world. Simply respectful treatment between humans and animals. Unfortunately, reality often paints a different picture, where economic and political motives frequently hinder animal welfare. Representing Eyes on Animals, cattle behaviourist and veterinarian Dr. Ronald Rongen … [Read more...] about Sixth meeting in Brussels with ‘calf-welfare group’ to advise Flemish Minister of Animal Welfare
Inspecting farms where kalverliefde calves may go to after being weaned at a later age
As independent auditors of Kalverliefde, Eyes on Animals visited 2 farms today where the Kalverliefde calves go, or may go to, in the future. In Kalverliefde the replacing female calves spend at least 3 months with their mother in the dairy herd and the males and remaining female calves at least 35 days with their mother. This is a huge step compared to conventional dairy … [Read more...] about Inspecting farms where kalverliefde calves may go to after being weaned at a later age
Meeting with pioneer farmer and founder of Calf at Foot Dairy in the UK
While in Birmingham to give a talk at the Humane Slaughter conference, EonA took the opportunity to meet with Fiona Provan at her farm nearby. Fiona is a real pioneer farmer and 12 years ago started and trademarketed her "Calf at Foot Dairy" methods. These are methods she believes in and has set up for other farmers to join with the same principles. Calf at Foot Dairy … [Read more...] about Meeting with pioneer farmer and founder of Calf at Foot Dairy in the UK
More calves get to stay with their mothers thanks to Plus supermarket and Lebkov & Sons coffee chain
One of the biggest welfare problems in the dairy industry is the production of new-born calves that are seen as unwanted, as all the milk from their mother is considered for “human consumers”. As a result, calves are separated at birth and placed often into plastic igloos or small barren pens where the calf has no opportunity to grow socially, to run and play or to feel … [Read more...] about More calves get to stay with their mothers thanks to Plus supermarket and Lebkov & Sons coffee chain
Visit to unique dairy farm producing for Harmony Organics, Canada
Recently Lesley from Eyes on Animals was visiting her parents in Canada for the summer holidays and had the chance to visit a dairy farmer there that was doing things differently. He founded Harmony Organics. Lesley had heard of him from a TV show called La Semaine Verte on CBC and thus knew he and his wife were farming with compassion and showed reciprocity to their … [Read more...] about Visit to unique dairy farm producing for Harmony Organics, Canada
No concrete improvements by VanDrie and Pali to end illegal calf-import from Ireland
In March 2022 Eyes on Animals (EonA) met with two big importers of unweaned Irish calves (2-3 weeks old): VanDrie Group and Pali Group. EonA initiated this meeting as the import of unweaned calves from Ireland involves serious violations of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. The feeding intervals for calves on this route are not respected, meaning that calves (at this … [Read more...] about No concrete improvements by VanDrie and Pali to end illegal calf-import from Ireland
Milk from farmers who keep their calves with their mothers now available in Dutch stores !
The calves are not directly taken away from their mother when they are born, which happens almost always, but they can stay with their mother for a longer period of time (usually a few months). Because of this, the calves are also not transported when they are very little (2-3 weeks), which is a great improvement for them. A world in which everyone eats plant-based, … [Read more...] about Milk from farmers who keep their calves with their mothers now available in Dutch stores !
New film on the fate of Irish unweaned calves on “illegal” export routes that EU tolerates
Ireland continues to break EU feeding laws for unweaned calves during transport when they export them to mainland Europe via roll-on roll-off ferry. From the moment the calves are loaded on the trucks in Ireland to the moment they are finally given feed/milk after arrival in France at least 24 - 30 hours have gone by. Milk is the only type of “ feed” these young animals … [Read more...] about New film on the fate of Irish unweaned calves on “illegal” export routes that EU tolerates
Eyes on Animals and Ruurehoeve dairy farm on Canadian TV
The French-Canadian TV show “La Semaine Verte” reported on Eyes on Animals’ project with farmer Corne Ansems from De Ruurhoeve (http://www.ruurhoeve.nl/). Together, along with the Dierenbescherming and pioneer dairy farmers, we are developing a separate label for dairy coming from farms where the farmer keeps the calves with their mothers for at least 3 months in the herd. … [Read more...] about Eyes on Animals and Ruurehoeve dairy farm on Canadian TV
