R&D for Handling of Bobby Calves

Summary

This project was aimed at producing a training and assessment kit for personnel involved with the transport and processing of bobby calves. In conjunction with a Dairy Australia funded project this exercise produced a uniform set of animal handling training and assessment materials that cover every sector in the supply chain of the bobby calf industry. The cost included the development of an interactive training CD, trainer and trainee notes and detailed competency assessment tools for the processing and transport sectors. Over one million bobby calves from dairy farms are slaughtered each year in Australia. These calves are integral part of the dairy industry and also a significant part of the small stock processing industry particularly in Victoria. This industry is coming under increasing pressure from animal rights and welfare groups to improve the standard of handling received by the calves prior to slaughter. These organisations are focused on the animals handling on farm, in transport and in lairage at the processing plants prior to slaughter. Dairy Australia has completed a stock take of the training being delivered across the whole of the supply chain and the overall observation can be made that there is at best a piece meal approach taken to the training of calf handlers.