Entry by Angelique Davies, CIWF Campaigns Officer responsible for the campaign against calf exports:

Dover shipments this week:

Tuesday 31st October, a shipment was due to sail but was cancelled due to bad weather conditions, we have no news yet of where the animals were sent overnight, we’ll keep the blog updated. CIWF believes that any port handling live animals should have a place where they can be unloaded and given food and water (lairage). Eventually the following day Wednesday 1st November, the shipment sailed at lunchtime, from Dover.

The second shipment this week was on Wednesday 1st November. Hauliers arrived at 9.30pm and again at 2.30am to load both calves and sheep onto the fast navigator destined for continental veal farms. In total, nineteen trucks containing live animals were shipped.

Calves stranded in Dover:

When news reached CIWF about the calves stranded in Dover on 11 October, KALE informed us that these animals were not unloaded or taken to any lairage facility. The need for such a resource in Dover is crucial to ensure animal welfare. With the increase of live exports, more frequent and regular shipments are taking place and the probability of delays and cancellations are more likely then ever before, especially now the winter months are coming. Therefore, we need to urge DEFRA to ensure that there are facilities available for these animals in the event of any further delays or cancellations to shipments.

CIWF wrote to DEFRA to press the trade to establish a staging point or other suitable premises in the vicinity of Dover.

Shipments last week:

Friday 3rd November.

Shipments this week:

Tuesday and Friday, Wednesday (not confirmed.)

For further information please call KALE's news line on 01304 204688.