ONTARIO VEAL – PRODUCED WITH PRIDE AND CARE
Today’s modern veal farms provide a safe, clean, healthy and caring environment. This environment is designed to ensure a high-quality meat product that is produced in a humane manner.
Most people do not realize that veal is produced from male (bull) dairy calves. These bull calves are not needed because modern dairy operations generally do not use them for breeding due to the use of artificial insemination. Dairy producers will sell the bull calves (approximately 50 % of calves born) to specialized veal producers, either privately or through an auction market.
In essence the veal industry arose as a by-product of the dairy industry, as a means to take those unwanted calves and produce a premium food item.
Far from the myth of baby cows in small pens kept in dark rooms, modern Ontario veal production uses various housing methods and complete diets to raise calves to a live market weight of approximately 295 to 318 kg (650 to 700 lbs.).
Furthermore, Ontario veal is produced in accordance with best practice standards set out by the industry, Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Canadian consumers can be sure that Ontario veal is raised following production and safety standards that are among the most stringent in the world. Ontario Veal Association farmers follow the Recommended Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Veal Calves and the Ontario Veal Association’s Ontario Veal Quality Assurance Program. These resources ensure that veal calves are raised in an environment where their welfare is top priority.
Rediscover the Appeal of Ontario Veal
Valuable information videos on Ontario Veal production.
Did you know?
- Next to beef, veal calves – at up to 318 kg (700 lbs.) – are the second largest animal that farmers raise.
- Veal calves are one of the oldest of all food animals when it goes to market.
- A 272 kg (600 lbs.) veal calf will eat 6.8 kg (15 lbs.) of grain (corn) every day and will drink anywhere from five to 30 L (7.9 gal.) of water a day depending on its size.
- Ontario raises approximately 40 per cent of Canada’s veal calves.
Housing of veal calves
Veal farmers use three different types of housing to raise their calves: hutches, group pens and individual stalls. Each housing method is selected based on the calf’s growth stage and the type of veal calf being raised. Regardless of method, calves are provided with a safe, comfortable environment where they can get up, turn around and socialize with other animals.
Hutches:
- Allow each their own individual space which helps to prevent disease
- Act like an incubator to maintain a warm and dry environment
- Protect during the development of immune systems
- Provide safety and protection from wind, rain and snow
- Allow farmers to monitor individual feed intake
- Are used on both dairy and veal farms for young calves
Group Pens:
- Allow for social grouping
- Offer increased space
- Are easier to maintain and operate
- Allows for grouping by size
- Are a lower cost alternative
Individual Stalls:
- Allow farmers to provide feed individually
- Provide a protected space
- Allow for easy monitoring of feed intake and health
- Minimize stress and exposure to disease
Did you know?
Canada is a world leader in voluntarily implementing group housing for both grain-fed and milk-fed calves.
Feeding
Both grain-fed and milk-fed veal raised on a complete diet that provides all the essential nutrients for proper growth and development.
Milk-fed veal calves fed a diet consisting of:
- Milk replacer, a liquid milk-based diet similar to infant formula
- Water
- Some roughage, such as coarse grains
- Vitamins, minerals and protein supplements
Grain-fed veal calves fed a diet consisting of:
- Milk or milk replacer for the first six to eight weeks
- Water
- Roughage such as hay
- Vitamins, minerals and protein supplements
- Corn-based grain feed
Did you know?
Grain-fed veal is unique to Canada.
