HC Deb 27 May 2004 vol 421 c1738W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many male dairy calves have been(a) shot and (b) disposed of on UK farms in each of the last three years as being without financial value. [174138]

Alun Michael

Data from the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) on calves of up to 14 days age that either die on farm or are killed at slaughterhouses are tabulated as follows. However, it should be noted that many cattle are not registered under the CTS until they are over 14 days old and these figures are therefore an underestimate.

Cattle up to 14-days-old that

died on farm

Cattle up to 14-days-old that

died at a slaughterhouse

2001 27,975 66,051
2002 20,784 59,934
20031 15,740 40,437
1Data for 2003 only covers the months January to November,

inclusive.