DEAR SIR: I’m writing in relation to the article by Aidan Brennan in the Livestock section of the 27 July Irish Farmers Journal, titled Crossbreeding: Is it good or bad for Ireland?

Regarding the comment piece published on page 27 of the above, I quote: “Many people associate calf slaughtering with crossbreeding, but the evidence is that about half of the calves slaughtered in Ireland are Holstein Friesian, so it’s not solely a Jersey crossbreeding problem.”

Careful interpretation of such “evidence” is recommended and a deeper analysis of the detail would be worthwhile. Nationally, it is well recognised that the herds which are crossbred to the Jersey breed will in turn cross their progeny back to Holstein Friesian in order to improve yield. Therefore, the Holstein Friesian calves referred to in your article originate from a Jersey background. The passport system only records the immediate breed of the sire of the calf, but does not record the breed of the dam.

It is regrettable that the Irish Farmers Journal author did not explain the system of crossbreeding practiced and, therefore, has not reflected the accurate position in the article. Dairy farmers who breed Holstein Friesian do not slaughter male calves at birth and take animal welfare very seriously.

I feel that in justifying the role of crossbreeding, the tone of the article casts an unfair reflection on the entire population of the Holstein Friesian breed and a negative focus on the entire dairy industry. I am of the opinion that contrary to the comment stated by the author, calf slaughtering is very much a Jersey crossbred problem.

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