In Canada

Delft Blue Farms in Canada have been raising calves in group housing settings since 1981.
This video shows the process of dairy calves being assembled from local farms in a receiving barn where the animals are weighed, checked, vaccinated. They are then divided into groups of similar weights to be distributed to company or contracted farms to be raised as milk fed veal.

In this particular video, the calves are being shown delivered to a company farm, where they are housed on flexible plastic slats made from recycled plastic.

The calves have 24 hour access to an “automated cow” where they drink milk through nipples. Most calves would find these nipples themselves eventually, but a technician makes sure that all the calves are made aware of the source of the milk.

The calves intake is controlled and monitored by a special ear tag that monitors the calf’s intake each time they feed for the automatic milk machine.

video source | Delft Blue Farms, Ontario, Canada

In USA

video source | Provitello Farms, NY 2007

Provitello Farms - Committed to Innovation through Technology & Compassion.

Provitello farms are committed to husbandry research and calf development for responsibly raising dairy bull calves in North America.

The dairy bull calf is a unique animal. In order for the dairy industry to thrive, a cow must give birth to produce milk. A bull calf is born 50% of the time.

Typically, animals are not bred specifically for the veal industry.

Provitello farms takes what is already present in agriculture and adds value to this calf. Veal production is a necessary and complimentary part of the dairy industry.

ProvitelloFarms & Delft Blue have over 20 years experience in group housing.

The initiative behind our long history in evolved housing was not ‘cache’ driven, but pursued from the realization that animal welfare impacts growing conditions.