With the culling season underway, MPI is reminding farmers that each animal is their responsibility until it is accepted by a processor or saleyard.

The Government is hailing the efforts of the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) in reducing the death of bobby calves on farm.

Dairy farmers are moving away from breeding bobby calves in favour of producing the quality dairy/beef calves needed by beef farmers.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says it’s happy with the way farmers are preparing for the new bobby calf regulations to be enforced from August 1.

Building their own calf loading facilities has resulted in better biosecurity and smoother loading for Otorohanga farmer Greig Furniss and his herd manager Tom Orlowski.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy is welcoming a new report showing a major improvement in bobby calf welfare last year.

A slaughterman who received home detention over the abuse of bobby calves has had his sentence replaced with a two year prison term following an appeal by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

The sooner farmers install walk-on loading ramps for bobby calves the better, says Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard.

It is great to see all those involved with bobby calves working cooperatively and positively to forestall a repeat of the terrible incident that aired on television showing mistreatment of these helpless animals.

In a matter of days – on August 1 – new regulations on bobby calves come into force.