As the bobby calf season gets into gear, Ministry of Agriculture (MAF) enforcement staff are keeping a close eye on the treatment of young calves being sent to the works for the veal trade.
Calves from dairy farms that are not wanted as herd replacements or to grow for beef are sent for processing a few days after they're born.
This is the third year of a MAF campaign that aims to promote good animal welfare practices for the vulnerable calves from birth to slaughter.
MAF animal welfare investigator Anthony King says that in past years the programme has focussed on farmers and this year will be communicating in particular with transporters and processors.
Anthony King says about 0.5% of the bobby calves sent for processing either die on the way or in the yards before slaughter.
Last year, 1.3 million calves were processed for veal.
