Support for farmers

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This calf is curiously eyeing the camera, otherwise it has little time because it is playing with the other calves. Born, fattened and slaughtered in Carinthia is the motto of "Kalb rosè Austria".(Bild: Christina Natascha Kogler, Krone KREATIV)

Strange and incomprehensible, but currently common practice: 60 percent of the veal demanded in Austria is imported, which means 62,000 calves are transported into the country. At the same time, 42,000 Austrian calves are exported to other countries. This is changing under the title Kalb rosè Austria.

"It was simply necessary to establish this Kalb rosè Austria program," emphasizes Josef Fradler, Chairman of BVG Kärntner Fleisch. "Carinthia has been doing pioneering work since 2019." What was the challenge? "The dairy industry dominates in Austria. Marketing male dairy calves was always a challenge, it was difficult to find a market. But now there are 3,600 cattle farmers in Carinthia and 35,000 throughout Austria who are part of Kalb rosè Austria," says Fradler happily.

Sandra Fradler with the one-month-old calves at the farm in Möderndorf near Maria Saal. Around 30 calves grow up there at any one time.(Bild: Christina Natascha Kogler)

Josef and Sandra Fradler fatten calves themselves. "The calves come to us from dairy farms when they are one and a half or two months old. They are first given milk from milk powder, then we slowly feed them hay and later concentrates such as maize. Until they are about eight months old. Then they go to Klagenfurt, where they are slaughtered. Until then, they play with each other. It's a joy to see them hopping around," says Sandra Fradler.

Only every fourth veal schnitzel in Austria comes from Austria.

Josef Fradler, Obmann der BVG Kärntner Fleisch, will vermehrt heimisches Kalbsfleisch vermarkten

So the motto can be followed: 'Raised, fattened, slaughtered in Carinthia.

Siegfried Huber, Martin Gruber and Josef Fradler with a trusting calf.(Bild: Christina Natascha Kogler)

"In the beginning, a few hundred calves were marketed via Kalb rosè Austria, today it's 5000 a year," says Martin Gruber, Deputy Governor of Carinthia. From July, the Department of Agriculture will provide support to attract even more farmers to the project and help them market their calves. "Because regionality means security of supply, guarantees quality and strengthens local farms. That's why 120,000 euros have been earmarked," says Gruber.

Veal facts

Per capita consumption in Austria: 1.5 kilos of veal per year

Veal imports to Austria: 8.2 million kilos per year

At the same time, 42,000 calves are exported

The Kalb rosè Austria project has been running since 2019.

35,000 cattle farmers throughout Austria, including 3,600 from Carinthia, are currently involved

The calves are born, fattened and slaughtered in Austria (between 6 and 8 months), the meat bears the AMA seal of quality

Currently 5000 calves are marketed each year. The demand is 15,000.

The support is paid retrospectively, calculated according to the number of animals. For 5 to 10 calves marketed via Kalb rosè Austria, a farmer receives 700 euros, for over 61 calves 2800 euros.

Born, fattened, slaughtered in the country - instead of importing, instead of the long transport routes.

Siegfried Huber, Präsident der Landwirtschaftskammer Kärnten

"The data comes from Bäuerliche Vermarktung, BVG Kärntner Fleisch, and the Chamber of Agriculture handles the state funding," explains Chamber of Agriculture President Siegfried Huber.