Amended by COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 97/2/EC of 20 January 1997 and by the COMMISSION DECISION (97/182/EC) of 24 February 1997 amending the Annex to Directive 91/629/EEC.

(Amendements incorporated)

Relevant Excepts from the text:

Article 1

Article 2

1. 'calf` shall mean a bovine animal up to six months old;
2. 'competent authority` shall mean the competent authority as defined in Article 2 (6) of Directive 90/425/EEC (6).

Article 3

1) Member States shall ensure that from 1 January 1994 and for a transitional period of four years, all holdings newly built or rebuilt and/or brought into use for the first time after that date shall comply with at least the following requirements:

• where calves are housed in groups, they must have sufficient unobstructed floor space to be able to turn round and lie down without hindrance of at least 1,5 m$ for each calf of 150 kg live weight,
• where calves are housed in individual boxes or by tethering in stalls, the boxes or stalls shall have perforated walls and their width must be no less than 90 cm plus or minus 10 %, or 0,80 times the height at the withers.

2) The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to holdings with fewer than six calves.

3) From 1 January 1998, the following provisions shall apply on all newly built or rebuilt holdings and on all those brought into use after that date:

• no calf shall be confined in an individual pen after the age of eight weeks, unless a veterinarian certifies that its health or behaviour requires it to be isolated in order to receive treatment. The width of any individual pen for a calf shall be at least equal to the height of the calf at the withers, measured in the standing position, and the length shall be at least equal to the body length of the calf, measured from the tip of the nose to the caudal edge of the tuber ischii (pin bone), multiplied by 1,1. Individual pens for calves (except those for isolating sick animals) must not have solid walls, but perforated walls which allow the calves to have direct visual and tactile contact;
• For calves kept in groups, the unobstructed space allowance available to each calf shall be at least equal to 1,5 mē for each calf with a live weight of less than 150 kilograms, at least equal to 1,7 mē for each calf with a live weight of 150 kilograms or more but less than 220 kilograms, and at least equal to 1,8 mē for each calf with a live weight of 220 kilograms or more.
  However, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to:
  • holdings with fewer than six calves;
  • calves kept with their mothers for suckling.

5) Calves must not be kept permanently in darkness. To meet their behavioural and physiological needs, provision must be made, allowing for the different climatic conditions in the Member States, for appropriate natural or artificial lighting; if the latter, it must function for a period at least equivalent to the period of natural light normally available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. In addition, suitable lighting (fixed or portable) strong enough to allow the calves to be inspected at any time must be available.

7) The accommodation for calves must be constructed in such way as to allow each calf to lie down, rest, stand up and groom itself without difficulty.

8) Calves shall not be tethered, with the exception of group-housed calves which may be tethered for periods of not more than one hour at the time of feeding milk or milk substitute. Where tethers are used, they shall not cause injury to the calves and shall be inspected regularly and adjusted as necessary to ensure a comfortable fit. Each tether shall be designed to avoid the risk of strangulation or injury and to allow the calf to move in accordance with point 7.

10) Floors must be smooth but not slippery so as to prevent injury to the calves and so designed as not to cause injury or suffering to calves standing or lying on them. They must be suitable for the size and weight of the calves and form a rigid, even and stable surface. The lying area must be comfortable, clean, and adequately drained and must not adversely affect the calves. Appropriate bedding must be provided for all calves less than two weeks old.

11). All calves shall be provided with an appropriate diet adapted to their age, weight and behavioural and physiological needs, to promote good health and welfare. To this end, their food shall contain sufficient iron to ensure an average blood haemoglobin level of at least 4,5 mmol/litre and a minimum daily ration of fibrous food shall be provided for each calf over two weeks old, the quantity being raised from 50 g to 250 g per day for calves from eight to 20 weeks old. Calves shall not be muzzled.

12) All calves must be fed at least twice a day. Where calves are housed in groups and not fed ad libitum, or by an automatic feeding system, each calf must have access to the food at the same time as the others in the group.

13) All calves over two weeks of age must have access to a sufficient quantity of fresh water or be able to satisfy their fluid intake needs by drinking other liquids. However, in hot weather conditions or for calves which are ill, fresh drinking water shall be available at all times.

15) Each calf shall receive bovine colostrum as soon as possible after it is born and in any case within the first six hours of life.