Yes, since the summer we have a new and hard-fought animal transport law: longer breaks are now planned for the transport route of domesticated calves from Salzburg to Spain. A drop in the ocean for those animals that roll to their death. And no, it is completely ineffective because it is systematically broken in front of all of us. The “Association against animal factories” (VGT) documented this latest scandal on the death route from Bergheim near Salzburg to Vic in Spain.
Loyal readers have known it for a long time: every week, dairy calves are collected from all over Austria and exported to Spain for fattening. The three to eight week old animals have to go hungry and thirsty for the entire duration of the transport, because they are still dependent on their mother’s milk and there is no supply on the truck. Calves regularly die on these transports or shortly afterwards from the exertion – that is no longer a secret.
Years of battle against windmills
“How can we do so much harm to helpless creatures? Why do we snatch baby animals from their mothers and transport them abroad to fatten them up there? Why do we send animals thousands of miles, usually in appalling conditions, across the continent to kill them there’, says ‘Krone’ animal expert Maggie Entenfellner with tears in her eyes. She has been fighting tirelessly for years to end the painful animal transports. But the wheels of the law grind slowly. And even worse: Existing guidelines are simply not followed.
Scandal: Austria may have deliberately circumvented EU law
It was only in September of this year that the VGT revealed that, according to legal experts, the state of Austria not only carries out illegal calf transports, but would even invent its own names in an agreement with Italy in order to circumvent EU legislation. A comprehensive written assessment of these abuses was submitted to the European Commission, which now has until early 2023 to respond. Too late for numerous animals who die by then.
VGT documented actual violations of the law
In the meantime, a team from the VGT has supervised the transports to Spain on several occasions and documented the observed violations of the law. And also this year there was a dead calf in a cadaver container in front of the collection point. By law in Bolzano, Italy, there must be a 24-hour break during which the calves are allowed to be unloaded and rested. In all documented cases, this pause was shortened to about 16 hours.
Calves are also mistreated
In fact, the 48-hour stay at the destination in Vic that is necessary after the end of the transport is completely ignored – after only a few hours the animals move on to the fattening stables in the region. In addition to the tiring, days-long transport, the small calves are treated very roughly during loading. The VGT team saw them beaten with sticks, several times in the face. Some calves were even kicked or kicked in the face and pushed off the truck. The VGT will file extensive complaints against the carriers involved.
Entenfellner: “Actions are required!”
“Krone” animal expert Maggie Entenfellner organized a successful summit on animal transport in 2020, where the important players from politics and animal welfare sought solutions. For years she has been working tirelessly to put an end to the rolling suffering. “Just talking about it is not enough – we finally expect effective use!” The EU animal transport regulation must finally be implemented consistently. Like the VGT, the ‘Krone’ expert advocates a total ban on the transport of unweaned quadrupeds of their mother’s milk.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
