American Veal Association

What is veal? 

Veal is a nutritious and nutrient-rich meat produced from the male dairy calves—typically Holstein breeds. A veal calf is raised until it is about 20-22 weeks of age and weighs up to 500 pounds. Dairy cows give birth at least once a year to continue producing milk, and male calves are typically moved to veal farms, where they are raised for meat production.

“Special-fed” or “Milk-fed” veal: Special-fed veal calves (also known as milk-fed and formula-fed veal calves) are fed nutritionally-balanced milk or soy-based diets. These specially-controlled diets contain iron and 40 other essential nutrients, including amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins. The majority of veal calves are “special-fed.”

“Non-special fed” or “Pasture-raised veal”:  Non-special-fed veal calves are fed a variety of diets, including milk replacer, grain and forages (hay, silage, or pasture). They are marketed at live weights of 151 to 400 pounds.

Calf: A calf is a young bovine, either male or female, of to about nine months of age that weighs up to 750 pounds.

“Bob” veal: A small percentage of domestic veal calves are marketed up to three weeks of age, or at a weight of 150 pounds. These are called “Bob” veal.

How are veal calves housed?

Veal farmers are committed to providing for the care and comfort of their calves. Modern veal barns have ample overhead lighting and many windows to let in natural sunlight. Veal farmers house calves in barns to protect them from harsh weather, to monitor, feed and water them regularly and keep their stalls clean. Most modern veal barns are also heated during cold months and have year-round ventilation to allow for clean, fresh air.

Veal calves that live in individual pens are given plenty of space to stand, stretch, lie down and groom. Administering individual care and minimizing calf-to-calf contact provides for the health and well-being of each calf and protects against the spread of disease. Modern barns maximize the quality of care farmers and veterinarians can give each calf.

What is the group housing initiative?

In 2007, the American Veal Association (AVA) adopted a resolution that encourages veal farmers to adopt group housing methods on all farms by 2017.  While group housing systems continue to be refined, 30-40 percent of calves are now raised in a group housing system that allows several calves to live together in pens that allow them to stand, lie and turn around.

How are veal calves raised?
Veal farmers have an ethical obligation to the animals in their care.  Veal calves are provided a nutritious diet, safe and clean housing and excellent care. Their health and well-being are top priorities to the farmers that care for them.

Veal calves receive individualized care. They receive a milk replacer diet that provides all of the 40 vitamins and minerals they need, including iron because a cow’s milk is naturally iron deficient. Veal farmers carefully monitor the health of each calf and understand that young calves require special care.

Most veal calves are raised on small family farms. The Veal Quality Assurance (VQA) program provides veal farmers with best management practices and standards necessary to ensure quality animal care. Proper housing, transport, biosecurity, animal health programs and record-keeping are just a few of the areas covered by the VQA certification program.
What animal health products are used in raising veal?
Providing consumers with safe and wholesome food is the number one priority of veal farmers.  When it is necessary to treat sick animals or prevent disease, farmers coordinate the administration of animal health products with licensed veterinarians to ensure correct use. Health products for use with veal calves must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within the Department of Health and Human Services before they are put on the market. The FDA also regulates information included on product labels, the doses permitted and the withdrawal period for any approved animal health product, which ensures food safety. Animals cannot go to market until all withdrawal periods are met.

The FDA has limited the number of medications they have approved for use in veal calves, and many medications that have been approved for use in cattle are not approved for use in veal calves.

Veal calves do not receive hormones. While growth-promoting hormones have been approved for use in some cattle, they have never been approved for use in non-ruminating veal calves.

How else do farmers ensure good health for their veal calves?

Veal farmers feed calves a nutritious diet and provide comfortable housing and excellent veterinary care because it’s the right thing to do. Whether they choose to use group or individual housing, veal farmers are committed to using best farm management practices to ensure animal health and well-being so they can guarantee the food consumers eat is safe and wholesome.