News Animal numbers
100 dairy farmers fined in Kalvergate
About 100 cattle farmers have been fined by the Public Prosecution Service in the so-called calf gate who kept the sector busy at the end of 2017. The fines range from €700 to €24.000. 20 livestock farmers have yet to appear in court.
At the end of 2017, the NVWA started an investigation after a report from RVO that irregularities had been identified in the Identification & Registration System (I&R) involving multiple births. The calf fraud case caused a great deal of commotion. Thousands of dairy farms were blocked by agriculture minister Carola Schouten, but largely unfairly† After investigation, about 140 cattle farmers who were suspected of cheating practices were left with an advantage in the phosphate space.
Fines
The investigations by the NVWA show that approximately 125 farms kept a total of approximately 3.000 cows too much. It concerns 3 small companies, almost 40 medium-sized companies and more than 80 large companies. On average, that comes down to about 24 cows too many per farm. At some livestock farmers there is according to the Public Prosecution Service there is no intent in the game and there is carelessness. Other entrepreneurs sometimes had dozens of cows too many.
In addition to the companies that have been fined, another 20 livestock farmers are being summoned by the Public Prosecution Service. They were not fined because of special circumstances, such as a combination with other files or because they did not agree with the previously imposed fine.
Wouter Job
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