VICTORIAN dairyfarmers have voted in favour of phasing out the practice of calf induction.
At its AGM held in Melbourne, United Dairyfarmers of Victoria members voted to carry the resolution, put forward by the Wannon UDV branch, "That the UDV adopt a policy that non-therapeutic induction of calves should be phased out."
Wannon branch member Chris O’Keefe said using calving induction as a herd management tool had “probably had its day” and that it presented a very poor image and potential market risk.
“Acting now, we can transition away from calving inductions on our own terms, rather than at the behest of animal activists or government intervention,” Mr O’Keefe said.
The original resolution had a prescribed timeline, and wanted to see the change in three years, but Darryl Hoey, Katunga, and immediate past UDV president Tyran Jones, Gruyere, said that timeline was prohibitive and research was needed to identify how many Victorian dairy farmers use the practice and how their herd management could be changed.
The resolution was carried by an overwhelming majority.
The other resolutions that were carried were for UDV to encourage financial institutions to recognise the true value of dairy cattle when young farmers enter into loan discussions; and for the peak dairy organisation to actively oppose the slur that “raw milk kills”, because as Alison Couston, Stanhope, said people will just hear “milk kills”.
The only resolution that was lost was “That the UDV lobby to amend the dairy licence conditions to allow the sale of unpasteurised, natural, fresh milk to be available for purchase by the general public for human consumption under regulated conditions.”
Ms Couston, speaking to this West Goulburn branch resolution, said it would give consumers a choice and protect dairy farmers; but Mr Hoey and others said that such a move would put the industry at risk if someone got sick from drinking raw milk.
