What are bobby calves?
Bobby calves are mostly male calves, not required for the milking herd.
Last updated 17/01/2024
On a dairy farm, more calves are generally born than are needed for the milking herd or can be reared for meat production. These are mostly male and known as bobby calves.
Bobby calves are generally sent to a saleyard or abattoir at five days or older. The industry has strict standards to ensure the welfare of bobby calves being transported.
Many of these calves are used for veal for food products or hides for leather goods.
A growing number of farmers are able to rear male calves, either themselves or with professional rearers, to become beef animals.
Unfortunately, not all male calves can be reared for beef due to lack of market opportunity. In instances where other pathways are not viable, calves are euthanised at birth.
The dairy and red meat industries are investing in research to find sustainable alternative pathways for bobby calves.
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