Calf Husbandry

These industry guidelines help ensure the welfare of newborn calves.

A calf must receive sufficient colostrum or good quality commercial colostrum substitute, along with suitable liquid feeds until the rumen has developed sufficiently to allow it to utilise solids as the sole feed source.

Premature calves that are unlikely to survive, or calves that have debilitating congenital defects, must be humanely destroyed.

Calves must be handled gently and moved in a manner which minimises distress and avoids injury, bruising or suffering.