Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue was bombarded with furious letters from the public about the mistreatment of calves in Irish farming.
The appalling cruelty had been laid bare in an RTÉ documentary called ‘Dairy’s Dirty Secret’ which showed animals being slapped, struck, kicked and transported in dreadful conditions.
In correspondence, the department was accused of doing little to tackle the poor treatment of live animals that were transported abroad, while others vowed they would not eat meat or dairy again.
One medical expert wrote of how they were “aghast” at what they had seen in the RTÉ investigation and said that the suffering caused by “poor inhumane policies is immense”.
Another asked when the agricultural workers who were seen to “kick and punch” animals were going to face punishment for what they had done.
Their email said: “[The animals’] experience makes a mockery of the Irish farm animal welfare regulations. The young calves are treated very badly.”
One person wrote that it was clear the existing set of standards for transportation and handling of livestock was totally insufficient.
“Numerous instances of overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, inadequate access to food, water and veterinary care have been documented. This has led to distress, injury, and even death among animals,” said their email.
The cow who has done so much for Ireland and this is how we treat their young.
Among the dozens of representations received were multiple emails that said the reputation of Ireland’s agriculture industry had been badly damaged, at a time when it was already under pressure because of climate change.
An email said: “To think we can allow this cruelty to happen for greed and profit – the cow who has done so much for Ireland and this is how we treat their young.”
Another wrote about how they had stopped eating or buying meat because of what they had seen in the RTÉ investigation.
“I am beyond distressed at the cruelty shown to vulnerable animals at marts,” they said.
One person said their family was going to boycott not just meat, but also dairy produce, in protest at the abysmal mistreatment of animals that had been documented.
They wrote: “I was both appalled and sickened to read about the treatment of veal calves being transported from this country and treatment of dairy animals in general.”
A direct email to Charlie McConalogue said they were “disappointed” that neither he nor a junior minister at the department were available for a Primetime discussion of the programme.
'Absolute scandal'
One farmer also questioned why the minister had been unavailable to RTÉ saying somebody needed to step up to “reassure the public that there is a plan in place to investigate … this absolute scandal”.
Another citizen urged Mr McConalogue to take emergency steps to ensure better treatment of young animals.
“There must be something you can do in the short term to compel these drovers at marts, the export companies and hauliers to give the animals some basic level of comfort – enough space, some rest and a drink – while in transit,” they said.
The Department of Agriculture declined to comment on the records saying that a live investigation was underway.
