Calves transported from Ireland were beaten, punched and jumped on by workers at a resting post for exports in France, according to undercover footage.
The shocking scenes were filmed by Eyes On Animals and French group L214 to highlight the brutal treatment of live exports. It is the first time such violence has been captured by hidden cameras.
Ireland exports 160,000 calves a year to the EU, and there are plans to increase this number.
One of the calves in the video was seen dragging itself along using its front legs. It is callously kicked by a worker as it lay helpless.
Nicola Glen, of Eyes on Animals, said: “The calves were suffering stomach upsets, especially diarrhoea, and were already very weak, suffering exhaustion, lack of feed, lack of water and lack of rest due to overcrowding.”
Northern Ireland also exports around 25 per cent of male dairy calves to veal abattoirs, mostly in the Netherlands.
L214 and Eyes on Animals are lobbying the EU to ban all transport of unweaned animals.
