Stopped on the A2

Horrific animal transport: two more calves dead

After the inspection, the calves were temporarily housed in a stable in the district of Voitsberg.(Bild: LPD Stmk/LVA)

At the beginning of February, the case of a horror animal transport that was stopped in Styria caused consternation. Two calves died and two more were left to be cared for in Styria. They too have now died.

No fewer than 265 calves, many only two weeks old, crammed onto three floors of a semi-trailer, on their way from Estonia to northern Italy: this is how the Styrian police traffic department stopped an animal transporter on the southern highway (A2) near Ilz at the beginning of February - we reported. 

All the animals were weakened and suffering from severe thirst, many were sucking on the bars. The watering system was rusty and broken, the transporter was actually designed for pigs. Not even the prescribed one-hour break after nine hours of driving was observed.

Heavy fine for the driver
Two calves did not survive the horrific journey, two more were deemed unfit for transport and remained in Styria. But they could not be saved either: "Despite intensive efforts, both calves unfortunately died. They did not consume any milk, which quickly becomes critical at this age," reports Provincial Veterinary Director Peter Eckhardt.

Incidentally, the remaining animals on the transport were allowed to be reloaded and transported onwards one day after the inspection in Styria. However, the driver had to pay a five-figure fine on the spot.