Calf wellbeing

We have introduced a new clause within the Terms of Supply which means calves can only be euthanised on-farm when there are humane reasons for doing so.

When the clause comes into effect on 1 June 2023, Fonterra farmers must ensure all their non-replacement calves enter a value stream - either beef, calf-veal or petfood.

We’re proud that Fonterra farmers are already world leaders when it comes to calf wellbeing. But consumers in New Zealand and around the world are increasingly interested in how their food is produced, including the quality of life experienced by the animals who produce it.

As part of our strategic choice to lead in sustainability, Fonterra places a strong emphasis on calf wellbeing and a big part of this is ensuring dairy calves have a useful life. It’s part of Fonterra’s long-term strategy to grow the value of the milk produced by our farmers by meeting the demand for food with really great animal wellbeing credentials.

Other countries and companies have already introduced policies and assurance schemes that provide consumer guarantees about the on-farm treatment of calves. Ultimately, it’s a risk mitigation will allow us to remain competitive in-market.

The majority of Fonterra farmers don’t need to alter their current practices as a result of this change. However, we understand the change may be a challenge for a small number of farmers and are working to provide support and options to make the transition easier.

This includes actively collaborating with the wider industry to create a greater range of market options for dairy calves, by investing in R&D and exploring long-term solutions such as sexed-semen and dairy-beef partnerships.

We signalled the change one season before it comes into effect to give impacted farmers time to prepare.

Fonterra is actively collaborating with the wider industry to create a greater range of market options for dairy calves by investing in R&D and exploring long-term solutions such as sexed-semen and dairy-beef partnerships.

There are tools available to help farmers (outlined above) that we will continue to update over the coming months, and new tools will be shared as they’re developed.

We understand collection services may be a challenge in some regions and this is one of the reasons we’re signaling this change early. We wanted to give farmers time to plan.

Right now Fonterra is working closely with individual meat processors and the Meat Industry Association on capacity requirements.

• To relieve suffering in an emergency situation
• Following vet advice
• To relieve suffering from a significant congenital abnormality (birth defect)
• To protect the wellbeing of an animal which is unfit for transport.

We still want farmers to be able to do home kill for their own meat. It is unlikely that farmers would use home kill services on young calves.

Beef processing is considered a 'value stream' so it would be permitted.

In New Zealand, the minimum legal age for transport of calves is four days of age. This means calves being transported live (e.g. for beef, calf-veal, or some petfood processing) must be reared on-farm until they are at least four days old.

Some petfood operators may humanely euthanise calves on-farm prior to transport, in which case the four day minimum age does not apply.

The new clause within the Terms of Supply means calves can only be euthanised on-farm when there are humane reasons for doing so. When the clause comes into effect on 1 June 2023, Fonterra farmers must ensure all their non-replacement calves enter a value stream -either beef, calf-veal or petfood.

Yes, third party pet food processors where calves are slaughtered by the pet food processor, either on-farm (transported dead) or at the processing facility (transported live) is considered an acceptable value stream.

Calves that are euthanised on farm for the purpose of rendering is no longer an acceptable practice. Consumers here in New Zealand and around the world are increasingly looking for more assurances around the quality of life experienced by the animals who produce their food. Calves that are stillborn or euthanised on-farm on humane grounds (refer above) can be sent to rendering processors.

On-farm euthanasia of non-replacement calves is permitted for humane reasons.

We expect there would be veterinary involvement if there is a significant disease outbreak requiring euthanasia of multiple calves.

No. While Animal Wellbeing is a fundamental component of the Co-operative Difference, this change is not an achievement within The Co-operative Difference programme.

Farms supplying Fonterra provide assurance via several pathways including real-time data technology, electronic and paper records, and independent on-farm assessments.

We respect the rights of our farmers to make decisions about their own farm business. As a Co-operative, we need farms supplying milk to Fonterra to support our collective business to be successful too – this means meeting our Terms of Supply.

All farms that supply Fonterra must agree to and meet our Terms of Supply. Consequences for failure to meet these terms are outlined in section 1.4 of the Terms of Supply Handbook.

DairyNZ and NZAgbiz have some great resources on best practices for raising calves, or you can reach out to your local vet for advice.