Veal Calves Treated Well
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) —Despite negative images of
veal production published by ani
mal activists, most veal calves are
healthy and well-treated, accord
ing to a Penn State researcher.
"Veal production is the most
misunderstood and widely criti
cized agricultural production
method," said Dr. Lowell L. Wil
son, professor of animal science.
"Our research on more than 1,000
calves over the past two years has
shown that growth rates, the condi
tion of the organs, the color and the
muscle tone all point to a well
cared for animal."
In a recent study of special-fed
or "fancy" veal, where calves were
kept on a liquid formula diet for 16
weeks before being marketed,
Wilson found that less than 2 per
cent of the calves died before
reaching market He also found
that the average growth rate for the
calves ranged from 2.5 pounds to
3.1 pounds per day, depending on
the farm where the animals were
raised.
"An animal that grows this
rapidly is physiologically and
metabolically fit. Results from
muscle color scores and other
characteristics of both rapidly
growing calves and slow-growing
calves indicate that faster-growing
calves are not necessarily more
stressed."
In addition. Wilson’s findings
debunk animal activists’ claims
that calves are often anemic
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because of the liquid diet they are
fed.
"In truly anemic animals the
first negative response is lack of
growth. This certainly would not
be a characteristic veal producers
would encourage," Wilson said.
"Our research has shown that a
count of iron-containing hemoglo
bin in these calves had levels well
above what is considered anemic."
A level of 7.0 grams of hemo
globin per deciliter of blood is con
sidered borderline anemic. During
the Erst 10-week period, the calves
in Wilson’s study had hemoglobin
levels that averaged slightly above
9.2 grams per deciliter. Before
being marketed, the average over
all level of all the calves was 7.8
grams. The researcher added that
when hemoglobin levels drop, pro
ducers add iron supplements to the
calves’ diets.
"These animals are not under
nutritional stress, and they are not
subject to physical stress from
housing conditions."
One of the most controversial
practices in veal production sys
tems is the use of individual stalls
where calves are tethered. Animal
activists claim this practice severe
ly limits calf movement and veal
producers should move toward a
group housing system.
Wilson explains that in research
involving individual stalls versus
group housing, individual stalls
reduced the spread of disease,
calves grew more uniformly, were
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cleaner and did not suckle or
"chew" one another, and mortality
rates were reduced.
In an effort to satisfy questions
from animal activists, he has now
embarked on a four-year project to
determine the health, behavior,
performance and effects of calves
raised under three different
management/nutritional systems.
One system will involve the con
troversial individual stall method
and the liquid diet. The second sys
tem is a combination of individual
stalls and a mixed diet of milk
replacer and grain.
The third method range
raised calves is a system often
suggested by activists. Calves will
be raised on marginal-producing
dairy cows which act as "foster
mothers," pasture and grain. The
calves, weaned after four months,
are then free to graze on high
quality, perennial grass pastures.
Wilson hopes the study will not
only pinpoint the most effective
and humane method for veal pro
duction, but also lead to the deve
lopment of a standardized veal
grading system.
According to the National Cat
tlemen’s Association, more than
300 million pounds of veal were
marketed in 1990. Compared to
the beef market, which recorded
22.6 billion pounds, the veal mark
et is a relatively small piece of the
cattle industry, and few studies
have been done comparing its pro
duction methods.
Uncart* Farming, Saturday, Much 7,1992-827
Despite Image
"Although the veal industry is
small compared to the beef indus
try, it is important to many seg
ments of the agricultural commun
ity. In fact, the nation’s dairy far
mers rely heavily on the veal
industry to purchase and feed out
surplus dairy calves."
the association estimates that in
1991, veal production figures will
drop by 15 to 20 percent, mostly
because of the expense of raising
FFA
Twin Valley FFA Wins Big
On February 14 through 16
many top-placing county record
books were sent to the state con
tests. The books were divided into
categories such as on-farm and
off-farm work experience, rabbits,
wildlife, and aquaculture.
Fifteen Twin Valley students
had books entered, but 20 medals
were awarded to them.
Andy Mast received a gold
medal for field com and grain, and
Heather Dougherty for guinea
pigs. Ryan Marshall received gold
for two projects: beekeeping and
non-farm work experience. A gold
medal was also won by Ulyssia
Drozd for goat breeding. Jason
Hess received a gold medal for
wildlife and was also named first
place winner for the southeast reg-
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calves.
"Veal production costs are up,
and consumption is dropping,"
Wilson said. "We’re not sure what
the cause of this trend is, but we
realize that through research we
can improve the systems currently
in use and give people a choice on
the type of veal they prefer to con
sume, based on the production
method used."
ion of the Game Commission.
There was also six silver med
als won by Twin Valley students.
Tracey Putt received one for her
beef growing project, and Ray
Reinhard for aquaculture. Andy
Mast got a silver medal for his
dairy herd project, and Brian
McGowan for field com. Ryan
Marshall also received two medals
in this category for swine finish
ing and poultry.
There was also many bronze
medals awarded to our members.
Ben Dodd for his Aquaculture,
Brian McGowan for agricultural
shop skills. Heather Dougherty for
non-farm work experience, Mar
cie Baker for guinea pigs, and
Michelle Powell for poultry. Jason
Brooks received two bronze med
als, one for home improvement
and one for agricultural shop
skills. Matt Scott also received a
bronze medal and was named the
third place winner in the South
eastern Pennsylvania Game Com
mission region.
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