He said that the vast majority of farmers go above and beyond to care for calves.My regular readers know I have a few key ideas about the management of commercial cattle ranches. Mr Lombard added that advancements in sexed semen will also help to eradicate the problem as farmers will be able to breed heifer calves which can then be kept in the herd.įellow committee member Michael Collins said he will be raising the issue, and suggested Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue should appear to answer questions on the issue. 'It's disappointing that the Minister would highlight an issue that in many ways the co-operative movement have been ahead of the Department on,' he said. However, Fine Gael senator and fellow Agriculture Committee member Tim Lombard suggested that a new charter put forward by dairy co-ops will end the practice of slaughtering dairy calves by 2024.

'This has a detrimental impact, not only on the animals, but on the public perception of farming,' she said in a tweet. Ms Hackett described the recent record-breaking figures as 'unacceptable' and said the dairy sector 'must take responsibility for its unwanted calves'. Instead she should be reviewing the Dairy Beef Calf Welfare scheme to ensure it delivers it's stated objective and working with all stakeholders to end the practiced of the slaughter of bull calves.' 'Her tweet is unhelpful and typical - rather than engaging with stakeholders to resolve the issue that her department oversees she points the finger at others.

Mr Carthy said 'few are in a more pivotal position' to make a ban happen than Ms Hackett. However, he also hit out at Junior Agriculture Minister Pippa Hackett, who last week took to Twitter to strongly condemn the slaughter of thousands of young dairy calves.

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy agreed that the practice of slaughtering bull calves needs to end. Mr Fitzmaurice suggested that the slaughter of healthy dairy calves under the age of nine months should be banned. I think that this is something that Minister McConalogue has to take a hard look at.' 'We need to be looking at this as it should not be tolerated.

Raising a bull calf