Retailer dismayed by footage of supplier’s penned calves
MARKS & Spencer has admitted it is “very disappointed” to see images of calves penned in solitary hutches at the farm of one of its milk suppliers.
Animal welfare group Animal Equality released footage of calves caged in the pens, claiming many were up to six months old. Solitary housing for calves beyond eight weeks old is banned.
The farm, named as Grange Dairy in East Chaldon, Dorset, belongs to J F Cobb & Sons.
Dr Toni Shephard, executive director of Animal Equality UK, said: “Seeing row after row of baby calves alone in tiny pens – when they should naturally still be with their mothers – is truly heartbreaking. But realising that many of these are actually older female calves who, contrary to UK animal welfare law, have been confined like this for many months is shocking.
“UK animal welfare law recognises how vitally important exercise and social interaction is for calves and restricts solitary housing to just eight weeks, yet on this farm Animal Equality found female calves as old as six months cramped and suffering in individual pens.”
She urged M&S to cut ties with the supplier and urged all supermarkets to take a zero-tolerance stance when farms break animal welfare laws.
M&S confirmed the farm remained a supplier, saying: “We were very disappointed to see these images. Any breach of our standards is completely unacceptable. Our experts have been on site and worked with the farm to take action and address the situation.
“We work hard to uphold the highest welfare standards, which is recognised by animal welfare charities.”
Nick Cobb, partner of J F Cobb & Sons, said: “We work closely with vets and industry welfare experts to establish the best approach to looking after our animals and our health and welfare performance is industry-leading.
“There is no suggestion that the health and welfare of our animals has been compromised.”
Trading standards officers declared they found no evidence of a breach of animal welfare rules.
Paul Tompkins, a member of the National Farmers’ Union’s dairy board, does not want the allegations to fuel inaccurate perceptions of farming. He said: “Calves aren’t born with much of an immune system and for that reason we house calves for the first few weeks of their life.”