Soil Association moves to end culling of male dairy calves

New Soil Association rules have come into force requiring its organic farmers in the UK to commit to ending the practice of culling male dairy calves at birth.

Farmers have been asked to draw up transition plans from January 2010 in order to end this culling practice within five years.

“Most of our members agree that culling and disposing of young calves is wasteful and a symptom of an unsustainable farming system,” said Soil Association director of farmer and grower relations, Phil Stocker.

Soil Association admits that it will not be easy for farmers to end the practice but insists that there are good alternatives and that five years is a reasonable time frame to make the necessary changes to farming systems.

Stocker said: “Many farmers are evolving their breeding strategies towards more dual purpose strains, giving greater levels of robustness while avoiding poor conformation male calves. Others are working to grow the UK organic rose veal market, as well as collaborating to rear calves more cost effectively.”