A ‘bobby’ calf’s first days of life are often their last. Here’s why.

Bobby calf in wheelbarrow

Imagine being born on Tuesday, then dead by Friday.

That might sound shocking, dystopian, unimaginable. But for nearly 40% of dairy calves born in Aotearoa, life ends within their first week. Approximately two million dairy calves are sent for processing as ‘bobby’ calves each year, with most of these transported to slaughter at just four to seven days old.