"male dairy calves should be reared in the UK"

December 7 2007 ~ Compassion in World Farming wins Derek Cooper special award 2007

The news from Waitrose will please CIWF, winners last week, warmwell is very pleased to see, of this year's Derek Cooper Special Award for Best Food Campaigner/Educator 2007
As one of our most eminent emailers remarked yesterday,
"the powerful men in grey suits (aka David King et al) are all supporters of cheap, welfare unfriendly/GM food for the burgeoning world population. They seem to have no ability to look into the future and see the unsustainable nature of their views - or the necessity to address human population growth. It looks as if the battle lines will be extensive/welfare friendly (smaller numbers/less money/sentient animals) versus intensive/factory (powerful people/lots of money/livestock as units) and I'm not at all sure that the intensive lobby will ever see reason as they are seduced by power and short term gains."
This is why Compassion in World Farming and the initiatives by those such as Waitrose and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall "Chicken Out" deserve the wholehearted and practical support of those of us who think ethical production is a matter that goes far, far beyond simply being kind to animals.

December 12 2007 ~ "...male dairy calves should be reared in the UK"

The export of unwanted calves is set to resume. Those who are concerned about this should look at CIWF's page about calf exports. There will also be CIWF demonstration outside DEFRA (Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR) on Friday December 14 from 12-2pm.
Meanwhile, Farming Weekly asks in its current poll, "Are live animal exports good for farming?" Please also see here and here. Warmwell.com supports British livestock farmers and agree with CIWF that consumers should be vocal in influencing the practices that are the most welfare friendly.

December 7 2007 ~ Dairy-bred bull calves born on Waitrose milk suppliers’ farms are to be finished for beef and veal in the UK

As we note below, the vast majority of bull calves are either summarily shot as unwanted or, when live export is allowed, are shipped abroad to become white veal. Both the journey and the treatment in crates and abattoirs fail to take account of their status as sentient beings. Now the Farmers Guardian reports that Waitrose wants all aimals raised in its farms to be "reared within the existing fully integrated supply chain." If trials prove successful, Waitrose aims to roll out the scheme across all the 65 dairy farms that supply it.

January 21 2008 ~ Tesco has pledged to phase out its sales of imported veal.

Sunday Express " Tesco will instead stock British meat from calves bred to higher welfare standards. The switch is possible because farmers which supply the supermarket with milk have agreed not to export their dairy calves. That means the calves will stay in the British supply chain instead of being reared abroad. ..."
More recent postings on calves in the UK. Waitrose too wants all aimals raised in its farms to be "reared within the existing fully integrated supply chain." If trials prove successful, Waitrose aims to roll out the scheme across all the 65 dairy farms that supply it.