Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania has expressed its outrage at proposals to starve bobby
calves for up to 30 hours. Spokesperson Neon Lang said:
‘These baby animals, at just days old, are an unwanted by‐product of the dairy industry. It is
proposed, based on research by the clear and vested interests of the dairy industry, to deny
them essential liquid feed for up to 30 hours. More factual research by independent
authorities clearly shows that this will cause the vulnerable, frightened animals immense
suffering, with many being too weak to stand or walk after such deprivation’.
Bobby calves are removed from their mothers within hours of birth, causing both the cow
and the calf enormous distress. Dairy cows have to be kept continually pregnant to meet
demand for milk for human consumption, and their babies are casualties of an industry that
keeps their mass slaughter quiet. Under this proposal, the calves can be transported from
farms, where they are unlikely to have had the nutrition they need, to saleyards and to
slaughterhouses, and be left without feed for up to 30 hours. AACT understands that that
this practice is happening now, and the industry is seeking to have it implemented into
legislation.
‘Our research indicates that these calves, being so young, frail and weak, are at risk of
egregious cruelty if this proposal is accepted’, continued Mr Lang. ‘Those too weak to stand
or walk face being dragged, prodded, kicked and beaten, and their tails twisted to force
them to slaughter’.
‘It is sad enough that these casualties of the dairy industry only get to live for just a few days
of wretched misery before they are slaughtered so that their mothers can provide milk
supplies for human consumption. We are appealing to the community get behind Animals
Australia’s national campaign, and to say NO to starving these innocent, vulnerable little
animals. We will be providing details about our ongoing campaign at a later date,’ concluded
Mr Lang .

AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY TASMANIA INC www.aact.org.au
Level 2, 191 Liverpool Street, HOBART [email protected]
Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania