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11/12/2011

Charlotte Smith looks at the British veal industry. Dairy calves are now being raised for rose veal, which farmers describe as high welfare meat.

Charlotte Smith looks at the British veal industry. There was a time when many male dairy calves would be shot or exported to veal systems which would be illegal in the UK. But in this country some calves are now being raised for RosΓ© Veal, which farmers describe as new-era, high welfare meat.

Over 100 thousand calves enter the food chain in the UK each year, but veal is still a small market in this country. It hasn't yet become a large part of our food culture. After years of pressure from protesters, the UK was ahead of the EU in banning veal crates, which became illegal across Europe in 2006, but continental systems still allow animals to be fed only milk, a restricted diet which keeps their iron levels low and produces a white meat. This is illegal in the UK, and On Your Farm visits a farm near Daventry to see the conditions used in modern British veal production.

Producer: Melvin Rickarby Presenter: Charlotte Smith.

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22 minutes

Last on

Sun 11 Dec 2011 06:35

Broadcast

  • Sun 11 Dec 2011 06:35