Northern Ireland- Dairy bull calves.

UNITED KINGDOM.

VEAL PROCESSING.

Northern Ireland red meat industry, is working on plans to fatten dairy bull calves for beef, in conjunction with Asda supermarkets, who will market the young beef.

The plan has many merits, in fact it was an enormous industry until 1970, when the animal rights activists made the trade impossible along with the high costs of labor and feed.

Frank Patten of Bridgewater and the Bellinger Brothers of Dorchester, had massive veal operations from 1950 until 1970.

There used to be 1,000 calves every night sold on Smithfield Meat Market in London, the inhabitants of the city of London consumed more veal per capita, than anywhere else in the world.

Some of today’s largest lamb companies in England, were major players in the calf business, Jaspers in Cornwall, Hopkins in Somerset and Oriel Jones in Wales.

The scheme in Northern Ireland, is being supported by the manufacturers of formula milk and the Meat and Livestock Commission.

Asda supermarkets, part of Wal-Mart the worlds largest retailers are calling the scheme "CalfLink".

Farmers in the scheme, will be eligible for 10% on the cost of their milk powder.

Very little is new in the meat and farming industry, this is still a big business in continental Europe Holland, Belgium, Italy and France.

It is estimated that over 60,000 Holstein bull calves have been shot and buried, on dairy farms, since the problems began in the live export trade to Belgium and Holland, in September.

.