Document type: End of Project Webinar slides published on the RenouVEAU (Idele) project website
Authors: Didier Bastien (Institut de l'Élevage - CIRVEAU), Magdéléna Chanteperdrix (Institut de l'Élevage)
Preview:In the context of a society-wide decline in production and consumption, French veal calf production faces a number of challenges. These challenges not only concern production itself, but also touch on broader issues linked to changes in farming methods. Citizen-consumer expectations are evolving rapidly, with a growing demand for forms of production that take greater account of animal welfare and health. Today's consumers are increasingly aware of the ethical issues surrounding livestock farming, and their expectations no longer relate solely to the quality of the end product. There is a need to investigate ways for farming practices to evolve to meet these new societal demands, while maintaining production that is economically viable. This is the backdrop for a pilot project by the French Institut de l'Élevage involving multiple partners and entitled RENOUVEAU. It was funded by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, between 2020 and 2023. This ambitious project has inspired various members of the agricultural sector to find ways to meet public expectations, exploring new avenues to improve calf rearing conditions. The main objectives of the work carried out as part of the RENOUVEAU project were to:
- Identify societal expectations regarding veal calf production:
- Develop and acquire baseline models for new animal housing and feeding methods,
- Assess the impact of these new production methods on several aspects of farming, namely: calf welfare, health and growth, quality of finished products (meat and leather), and economic impact (capital costs, economic results).
The RENOUVEAU project was brought to a close by a webinar held on December 12, 2023 and presenting the full range of project outcomes. A number of different speakers shared the conclusions of their work and discussed the future of the French veal industry.
Link to slides (pdf)
