Ruqayyah Snyder
Veal production in Australia has been criticised for its poor quality, despite the country's reputation for producing the cleanest, greenest, safest and best quality meat in the world. While the inhumane system of housing calves for veal production, involving calves spending their entire lives in individual crates, has never been used in Australia, the majority of male calves are still killed on the farm at birth or at five days old. However, some farms are now raising calves for veal with higher welfare standards, such as Tommerup's Dairy Farm, which produces rose veal, and Mulwarra, which supplies free-range, grass-fed veal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Veal term usage | In Australia, the term veal is used for cuts from carcasses weighing up to 150 kg. |
| Calf treatment | Calves are not kept in crates that restrict movement, a practice that has been illegal in the UK and Europe since 2007. |
| Calf diet | Calves are fed fresh, rich Jersey milk and are not given grain, chemicals, or antibiotics. |
| Calf age at slaughter | Calves are typically slaughtered at 6-12 months of age, though some are killed at birth or at 5 days old. |
| Veal quality | The quality of veal in Australia is generally considered to be low, but it has the potential to be excellent. |
| Veal colour | Veal is typically light-coloured, with the two lightest grades out of 5 being V1 and V2. |
| RSPCA standards | The RSPCA has released standards for dairy calves, encouraging higher welfare standards for veal and dairy beef production. |
| RSPCA-approved farms | Currently, there are no farms participating in the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme that raise calves for veal. |
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What You'll Learn
- Calves are raised free-range, grass-fed, and with access to the outdoors
- The inhumane practice of veal crates has never been used in Australia
- Male calves are often surplus to farm requirements and killed at birth or shortly after
- The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme encourages higher welfare standards
- Veal is sourced from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales
Calves are raised free-range, grass-fed, and with access to the outdoors
In Australia, veal is typically sourced from male calves, which are seen as surplus to dairy farming requirements. These calves are generally not raised for long, with around 450,000 male calves slaughtered at just five days old. However, some calves are kept and raised free-range, grass-fed, and with access to the outdoors to produce veal.
One example of this is the Torello rosé veal program, which takes unwanted bull calves and raises them for seven months with a focus on animal welfare. This results in a product that is tender, lean, and delicious. Similarly, Tommerup's Dairy Farm allows calves to suckle from their mothers for at least one to two months before moving them to a paddock where they are bottle-fed twice daily with fresh Jersey milk. These calves are also raised in chemical-free pastures and remain on the farm until they are around seven to ten months old.
The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme in Australia also sets standards for dairy calves, ensuring they have space to move, play, and socialise, as well as access to a nutritious diet, proper bedding, and the outdoors from eight weeks old. While there are currently no farms participating in the scheme that raise calves specifically for veal, the RSPCA is working with farmers to encourage higher welfare standards for calves raised for veal or dairy beef.
The Australian Meat Company also supplies veal from calves raised free-range and grass-fed in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. These calves are raised exclusively for veal production under ideal conditions, resulting in a consistent light-coloured product.
By raising calves free-range, grass-fed, and with access to the outdoors, farmers can improve the welfare of these animals and provide a humanely-farmed product for consumers. This approach also allows the calves to develop naturally and healthily, resulting in high-quality veal that meets consumer demands for ethically sourced meat.
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The inhumane practice of veal crates has never been used in Australia
In Australia, veal is sourced from calves raised free-range under ideal conditions. The calves are fed on grass and are free to roam, as opposed to being kept in veal crates. The inhumane practice of veal crates has never been used in Australia.
Veal crates are a system of veal production where calves spend their entire lives in individual crates with solid wooden sides. These crates do not allow the animal to turn around or express natural behaviours. This inhumane system of housing calves is designed to produce the ‘classic’ white-coloured veal by denying the calf access to iron. While veal crates have been illegal in the UK and Europe since 2007, they are still used in some countries.
In Australia, veal is typically sourced from male calves, which are seen as a by-product of the dairy industry. These male calves, or "bobby calves", are often killed at birth or shortly after as there is no market for them. However, some farmers are now raising these calves for veal production, aiming to improve animal welfare and provide a humanely farmed product for consumers.
One example of humane veal farming in Australia is the Torello rosé veal program, which takes unwanted bull calves and raises them for seven months with high welfare standards. This initiative has won a compassionate farming award and produces a product that is tender, lean, and delicious.
RSPCA Australia has also developed animal welfare standards for dairy veal, encouraging farmers to raise calves for veal or dairy beef to higher welfare standards. RSPCA Approved farms ensure that calves have space to move, play, and socialise, as well as access to nutritious food, proper bedding, and the outdoors. While there may not be any RSPCA Approved dairy veal products on the market yet, consumers can contact veal brands and supermarkets to express their interest in humanely farmed veal.
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Male calves are often surplus to farm requirements and killed at birth or shortly after
In Australia, male calves are often considered surplus to farm requirements and are killed at birth or shortly after. This is because male calves do not produce milk and are therefore seen as a byproduct of dairy farming. Around 675,000 male calves, known as "bobby calves", are born alive in Australia each year, and approximately 450,000 of these are slaughtered at just five days old. This is due to a lack of demand for male calves in the market.
The RSPCA has released animal welfare standards for dairy veal in an attempt to improve the lives of these male calves. The RSPCA's standards focus on ensuring good farming practices, handling, husbandry, and management. Calves on RSPCA-approved farms have space to move, play, and socialise, and are provided with a nutritious diet, proper bedding, and access to the outdoors from eight weeks of age. However, as of 2024, there are still no farms participating in the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme that raise calves for veal.
Some farms in Australia are trying to add value to male calves by raising them for veal production. For example, Tommerup's Dairy Farm allows calves to suckle from their mothers for at least one to two months before moving them to a paddock. The calves are bottle-fed twice daily with fresh Jersey milk and are kept until around seven to ten months of age. The Torello rosé veal program takes a similar approach, providing unwanted bull calves with good animal welfare for seven months before producing tender, lean, and consistent meat.
Despite these efforts, veal production in Australia is still relatively small-scale, and the quality of veal is often criticised. Anthony Puharich, chief executive of Vic's Premium Quality Meat, has stated that while Australia has a reputation for producing excellent meat, veal has always been a neglected protein. He suggests that promoting and producing better-quality veal could be a good way to meet the ongoing demand for meat and reduce the impact of the meat industry on the environment.
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The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme encourages higher welfare standards
RSPCA Approved farms provide a higher welfare environment for animals, including dairy calves raised for veal or beef. These calves, often considered a byproduct of the dairy industry, are given space to move, play, and socialise. They are provided with a nutritious diet, proper bedding, and access to the outdoors from at least eight weeks of age.
The RSPCA's standards for dairy calves focus on ensuring good farming practices, handling, husbandry, and management. While there are currently no RSPCA Approved dairy veal or beef products on the market, the organisation has been in discussions with farmers and industry contacts to promote higher welfare standards in veal production.
By choosing RSPCA Approved products, consumers can support higher-welfare farming. The RSPCA Approved logo on meat and eggs indicates that the product has met the organisation's stringent animal welfare standards, assuring consumers that animal welfare is a priority for the brand. This encourages farmers and brands to adopt higher welfare farming systems and helps drive improvements for farm animals.
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Veal is sourced from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales
Veal is sourced from various regions in Australia, one of which is the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. The calves sourced from this region are raised free-range and exclusively for veal production. The Australian Meat Company, in partnership with Mulwarra, supplies tender and pink veal from this region, ensuring a consistent light-coloured product. The meat is sourced from carcases weighing up to 110kg, which is less than the Australian standard for veal of 150kg.
The Northern Rivers region is known for its lush pastures and ideal weather conditions, contributing to the production of healthy and stress-free animals. The veal from this region is milk-fed and grain-finished, with access to open pastures for grazing. The welfare of the animals is a priority, and they are allowed to roam free and graze on grass while also having access to their mothers' milk and grain to support their natural growth.
The veal produced in the Northern Rivers region undergoes strict grading processes to ensure that it meets the high standards associated with the region. The meat is graded according to colour, with V1 and V2 being the two lightest grades out of five. This veal is also animal welfare accredited, ensuring that the calves are raised under ideal conditions and strict animal welfare guidelines.
The Australian Meat Company delivers this veal with a minimum lead time of 48 hours from the order, offering portion-controlled individual servings packed with leading technological standards. The company prides itself on providing free-range, grass-fed veal that is consistent, flavoursome, and juicy.
Overall, the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales is a significant source of veal in Australia, known for its high-quality meat and ideal conditions for calf-rearing. The veal produced in this region is highly regarded and sought-after by consumers who value animal welfare and high standards in their meat products.
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Frequently asked questions
Veal is meat from young calves. Male calves are often seen as surplus to dairy farm requirements as they do not produce milk.
The inhumane system of housing calves for veal production, where calves spend their entire lives in individual crates, has never been used in Australia. RSPCA Approved farms ensure calves have space to move, play, and socialise.
RSPCA's animal welfare standards for dairy veal include ensuring good farming practices, handling, husbandry, and management. Calves should have a nutritious diet, proper bedding, and access to the outdoors from 8 weeks old at the latest.
Tommerup's Dairy Farm produces rose veal from calves that are left to suckle from their mothers for at least 1-2 months. The calves are then bottle-fed twice daily with fresh Jersey milk and remain on the farm until they are 7-10 months old. The Australian Meat Company supplies veal from Mulwarra, which raises calves free-range under ideal conditions.
Dairy veal is not widely available in Australian supermarkets or on restaurant menus. However, consumer demand for humanely farmed veal can help improve the welfare of calves and increase the availability of such products.
