SHOCKING undercover footage from Irish marts to be broadcast in new RTÉ programme

Shocking undercover footage from Irish marts is due to be broadcast in a new RTÉ Investigates programme. 

An in-depth investigation by RTÉ presenter and former Agricultural Correspondent, Fran McNulty, has reportedly revealed major animal welfare abuses against Irish dairy calves. 

'Milking It: Dairy's Dirty Secret' consists of evidence collected over five months and is due to air tomorrow night (Monday July 10) on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. 

According to RTÉ, one and a half million dairy calves are born in Ireland every year to ensure cows continue to produce milk. 

Around half a million of the calves born are male - many of which are lower grade quality and aren’t suitable to be reared for beef - and are considered valueless. 

They end up being slaughtered on farm or in meat factories, or they are exported as veal to mainland Europe. 

Monday night’s investigation reportedly shows how at some mart sales animals can't even be given away for free due to the oversupply of calves at peak points in the calving season (a short six-eight week period in spring and autumn). 

While some handlers were found to treat young calves capably and with respect, others - including mart workers, farmers and transporters - reportedly showed a blatant disregard for animal welfare. 

Undercover filming also captured what appeared to be serious breaches of animal welfare, including slapping, striking and kicking of animals, as well as throwing them mid-air. 

The programme also investigates the journey taken by some of the 200,000 bull calves exported from Ireland every year to be fattened on veal farms in mainland Europe. 

According to the Department of Agriculture’s own figures, close to 30,000 calves - mostly young bull calves - have been slaughtered at meat factories in Ireland so far this year. 

Images/video: RTÉ Investigates