Farmers to be offered cash to slaughter millions of new-born calves
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Farmers are to be offered cash to slaughter millions of new-born calves under an emergency scheme to halt the rise in Europe's beef mountain caused by the BSE crisis. The EU's so-called Herod premium, set at pounds 100 for every calf under 20 days killed, will become mandatory as part of a desperate attempt to scale back the huge volume of unwanted beef coming on to the market.
Animal welfare groups in Britain, which have long campaigned against the treatment of animals under the EU's farm policy, will be appalled by the scheme, which forms part of a pounds 2bn strategy to cope with the aftermath of the BSE scare. Beef consumption has plummeted by up to 40 per cent and the meat stockpile in EU cold stores is rapidly swelling to the 1 million tonne mark from a low of 15,000 tonnes earlier this year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments