A number of industry associations, along with the Ministry for Primary Industries, have joined forces vowing to eradicate the mistreatment of bobby calves.

DairyNZ, the Meat Industry Association, Federated Farmers, the Road Transport Forum, the New Zealand Petfood Manufacturers Association, the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand, the New Zealand Veterinary Association have made a joint commitment to stamp out any mistreatment.

Industry groups have joined forces to make sure bobby calves will not be mistreated after undercover video footage was released by the Farmwatch organisation. Photo: Supplied.

The organisations and their members, alongside MPI, will work together as well as individually to develop measures to ensure poor practice is eradicated.

The move follows bobby calf mistreatment revealed in video footage recorded by animal rights group Farmwatch and released as part of a SAFE (Save Animals from Exploitation) public campaign launched against dairy farming in New Zealand late last year.

DairyNZ Chief Executive Tim Mackle says there has been a lot of discussion – and the dairy industry is now focussed on its next steps.

As part of those moves, Dairy NZ has launched a new webpage on the bobby calf welfare issue to help inform discussion. It can be viewed by clicking here.

'Resolving these issues will depend not on words, but on actions,” insists Tim. 'We are committed to working with everyone in the supply chain to ensure bobby calves are well cared for.

'We have ensured that good practice advice is available to all dairy farmers and that they have forums available where they can share their own good management practices with others.”

Tim Ritchie, Chief Executive of the Meat Industry Association, says the meat processing and export industry is subject to a comprehensive regulatory framework.

The meat industry, together with dairy, is undertaking a systematic review from farm to processor to identify any opportunities for improvement. This will be completed before the next bobby calf season.

Richard Brake, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Petfood Manufacturers Association, says there were very strong codes in place for the treatment of bobby calves on farm, during transport and in processing.

'The vast majority of New Zealand's dairy farmers, transport operators and processors uphold and, in many cases, exceed these world-class codes,” says Richard.

'We want everybody to uphold them. That's what we will all be working on.”

Scott Gallacher, Deputy Director General of the Ministry for Primary Industries, says, 'New Zealand has a very strong record and international reputation for our animal welfare system.

'One of the ways that has been achieved is government and industry working together. This joint commitment is a strong signal of how seriously we all take this matter.

'MPI is committed to participating actively and working with industry to close any gaps that might be identified in regulatory frameworks.”