After years of exposing the route of unweaned calves from Ireland to the Netherlands, there is progress. Brittany Ferries has decided to go back to their original plan of banning live animal transports on their ferry services. Under pressure from industry they allowed it this past year but due to all the recent negative publicity they have decided to stop again. Thank you … [Read more...] about Brittany Ferries to stop transporting live animals as of September 2026
unweaned calves
Visit to assembly center Wijntjes that feeds milk to calves
Good news. Last week we visited Wijntjes calf assembly center in Friesland, where young calves are actually provided with milk through teats during their stay. That may sound like common sense, but unfortunately it is still the exception rather than the rule. At most collection centres in the Netherlands, EonA discovered that calves are offered only electrolytes during … [Read more...] about Visit to assembly center Wijntjes that feeds milk to calves
Debunking the myth: milk during transit does not cause diarrhea in calves
In the northern Netherlands, we teamed up with veterinarian and calf feeding expert Dr. Ronald Rongen to tackle a persistent myth in the cattle sector: that feeding milk to calves in transit causes diarrhea. Most Dutch calf traders and farmers think that giving milk to unweaned calves in transit causes diarrhea, and thus withhold milk for very long periods. … [Read more...] about Debunking the myth: milk during transit does not cause diarrhea in calves
Feeding intervals continue to be violated during import of unweaned Irish calves
Despite clear EU regulations designed to protect unweaned calves from starvation during long journeys, investigations by Eyes on Animals (EonA) and Ethical Farming Ireland (EFI) reveal that these rules continue to be ignored—resulting in Irish calves enduring extremely long journeys without being fed milk. On May 3, Eyes on Animals (EonA) followed a transport truck … [Read more...] about Feeding intervals continue to be violated during import of unweaned Irish calves
RTE Prime Time: Irish calves mistreated for export
On October 8, 2024, the Irish investigative program RTE Prime Time aired a shocking documentary about the export of Irish calves, responding to findings from Eyes on Animals, Ethical Farming Ireland, L214, and Dier&Recht. The documentary reveals various violations: calves are deprived of milk for extended periods, are mistreated at the Irish assembly center in Kerry, … [Read more...] about RTE Prime Time: Irish calves mistreated for export
Irish calves transported to the Netherlands: starved, abused, and left to die
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 … [Read more...] about Irish calves transported to the Netherlands: starved, abused, and left to die
Seventh meeting with the “Welfare for Calves” working group to advise the Flemish Minister of Animal Welfare
On the agenda again was the formulation and development of advice to promote animal-friendly, and economically viable calf farming in Flanders. No easy task, given the representation of both livestock farmers/fatteners, the calf trade, veterinarians, research and of course animal rights (the latter represented by both GAIA as well as Eyes on Animals). That animal … [Read more...] about Seventh meeting with the “Welfare for Calves” working group to advise the Flemish Minister of Animal Welfare
RTE documentary about fate of calves in dairy industry wins Royal Television Society prize
Congratulations to the journalists from RTE (Ireland) who exposed on TV the fate of calves from the dairy industry last year with Eyes on Animals, L214 and Ethical Farming Ireland. They won for best Current Affairs documentary at the Royal Television Awards! Every year, between February and April, tens of thousands of Irish calves, just a couple of weeks old, are … [Read more...] about RTE documentary about fate of calves in dairy industry wins Royal Television Society prize
Irish RTE film (with EonA) investigating calf exports to the Netherlands nominated by the Royal Television Society for best documentary 2023!
In March 2023 investigative journalists from RTE joined us in the field to investigate the fate of unwanted calves from the dairy industry. The calves are picked up from the Irish dairy farms at just 14 days of age and put through livestock auctions, then collecting stations and then on to large trucks for export to intensive farms in the Netherlands where they are raised … [Read more...] about Irish RTE film (with EonA) investigating calf exports to the Netherlands nominated by the Royal Television Society for best documentary 2023!
Fifth meeting in Brussels with ‘calf-welfare group’ to advise Flemish Minister of Animal Welfare
Today, on behalf of Eyes on Animals, Dr. Ronald Rongen participated in the fifth meeting of the Calf Farming Working Group, as part of the Flemish Council for Animal Welfare, in Brussels. The agenda included discussions on the pros and cons of reaching chain agreements to improve calf welfare. It's not an easy task, as various interest groups and organizations … [Read more...] about Fifth meeting in Brussels with ‘calf-welfare group’ to advise Flemish Minister of Animal Welfare
