THE BATTERY FARM CALVES Shocking photos of young cattle squeezed into cramped cages by farm that supplies milk to M&S . . . FARM CALVES
THE rows of pens and hutches could not be more removed from the storybook idea of farm life.
This site, effectively a battery farm for calves, is used to rear cows that will go on to supply milk to leading supermarkets including Marks & Spencer.
Welfare law states that cows should only be reared in these solitary hutches for up to eight weeks of age. But the calves captured in these images are significantly older – making this practice potentially illegal.
What is clear from the pictures is the calves are too large for the hutches.
They struggle to bend to get inside the cramped shelters when they need protection from the cold and rain. This has left some of them with grazes on their backs.
The Holstein calves, raised at Grange Dairy in Winfrith Newburgh, near Dorchester, Dorset, will be sent to other farms to join a dairy herd.
Once they are old enough to calve, their milk will be supplied to supermarkets across the country.
The farm belongs to J F Cobb & Sons, which has been run by the Cobb family in Dorset since 1928. It is part of a group of farms that supplies 240,000 pints of milk to the high street every day.
Trading standards officers confirmed the calves are older than eight weeks, based on information on their ear tags, and have begun an investigation.
Bosses at M&S have also carried out an audit of the ‘disappointing’ revelations.
The welfare group Animal Equality UK, which captured these pictures, claim some of the calves are up to six months old. This is denied by M&S and the farm, but both refused to give the age.
Animal Equality director, Dr Toni Shephard, 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 some of these young female cows have been confined like this for months on end without exercise or companionship is shocking.
‘UK law recognises how important social interaction is for calves and restricts solitary housing to just eight weeks. Yet on this farm we found calves that were several months old in pens on their own.
‘We are calling on retailers, including M&S, to break ties with this supplier immediately.’
Marks & Spencer said: ‘We are very disappointed to see these images; any breach of our standards is completely unacceptable.
‘Our experts are on site and working with the farm to take immediate action and all neces
‘They should still be with their mothers’
sary steps to address the situation. We work hard to uphold the highest welfare standards.’
The JF Cobb & Sons website, which has an RSPCA endorsement, reads: ‘All our energy is focused on keeping our cows comfortable and healthy.’
Partner Nick Cobb 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.’