RSPCA warns against calf stunts

19 August 1999

RSPCA warns against calf ‘stunts’

By Farmers Weekly reporters

FARMERS have been warned by the RSPCA not to use calves in publicity stunts to highlight the problems of finding markets for black-and-white bull calves.

The condemnation followed an incident earlier this week when 13 calves were left at an RSPCA wildlife hospital in Cheshire.

But farmer Rob Sims said that he and the other producers involved wanted the RSPCA to use its influence with the government to produce a practical solution. He added that the publicity surrounding the event had given the farmers a chance to explain the problems they faced.

Peter Davies, RSPCA director general, said the charity did not have facilities to cope with large numbers of calves. And, while sympathetic to farmers plight, he said any unnecessary suffering caused to animals through “stunts of this kind” could result in prosecution.

The society had written to MAFF and the NFU asking for an urgent meeting, he added.

The NFU has called on the government to look at reinstating calf exports. In the meantime, the union is calling for a national disposal scheme to ensure farmers have free access to slaughtering facilities for poor quality calves.