First-Ever LCA Findings Released for U.S. Veal

The American Veal Association (AVA) has completed its first-ever Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the U.S. milk-fed veal industry. This LCA was developed with the goal of estimating the efficiency of converting resources like energy, fuel and feed into veal. The study found farms had an environmental impact of 2.88 kg of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per kg of veal when studied from cradle-to-gate.

“We’re very pleased with the results demonstrated in the LCA. While the methodology of other studies can vary, our report provides indication that veal is in line with other meats like pork and chicken,” said Sonia Arnold, Ph.D., AVA president. “Our membership is committed to producing safe, healthy, nutritious protein in a responsible and sustainable manner.  The findings in this report confirm that we are on the right path to achieving this goal.”

As part of the study, Eocene Environmental Group (formerly Sustainable Environmental Consultants) conducted boots-on-the-ground data collection on farms in Pennsylvania, Indiana and New York. Operations studied varied in size, location, technology, manure practices and operational practices. Typical U.S. veal farms are family farms raising on average about 200 calves per production cycle with an average of 2.5 production cycles per year. In some areas of the country, it is very common to see Amish and Mennonite farm families raising veal. Milk-fed veal farms are primarily located in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Data collection took place in 2023 and 2024 and focused on cradle-to-gate emissions. This means information gathered for the study was collected from the time the animal was born to the time it left the farm for harvesting and processing.

Important study findings include:

• The largest source of cradle-to-gate GHG emissions was from purchased feed (29%).

• Emissions from fuels represented the second greatest source of GHG emissions (21%). Inputs included combustibles (wood and coal), gasoline, diesel, natural gas and propane.

• Manure management was the third highest contributor of GHG emissions (15%).

• Soil-based nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and emissions related to the production of agricultural inputs collectively contributed 12% to the GHG footprint.

• Shipping was the fifth largest contributor of emissions (8%). Shipping included shipping feed to the farm as well as calves being transported to market.

• Tied with shipping, enteric fermentation contributed 8%. Enteric fermentation emissions are the result of natural digestive processes that occur within digestive systems of ruminant animals. However, as veal calves develop their rumen and rumination activities over time, methane production is less than that of an adult bovine.

• It should be noted that the study also found soils were sequestering more carbon than what were being emitted. This in turn helped bring down the overall environmental impact by 17%.

Results of the study have been shared with the AVA membership to help them explore areas of improvement for the future.

“The insight of this first-ever LCA serves as a crucial baseline for driving future improvements,” Arnold continued. “This quantifiable baseline provides our members something to build upon in their commitment to continuous improvement.”

Animal wellbeing is one of those areas where the industry has made significant improvements over the past 25 years. Healthy calves raised in group housing are a priority on our U.S. farms. AVA member companies and veal farmers fully embrace and implement the expectations of the Veal Quality Assurance (VQA) program. Technically reviewed and updated in 2024, VQA provides science-based standards for raising healthy calves based on the Five Domains of Animal Welfare. VQA certification is validated by licensed veterinarians, managed by the Meat Institute, and funded by the Beef Checkoff.

Completing the LCA signals completion of a goal outlined in the AVA’s Ethical Commitments. Updated in 2023, the Ethical Commitments have a section focused on the Environment with a target to complete an LCA by 2025.

The American Veal Association is a member-driven organization that represents businesses and individuals engaged in the milk-fed veal industry. Our policies are driven by the values and beliefs of our members which are best summarized in AVA’s Ethical Commitments.

Businesses or individuals engaged in the milk-fed veal industry are invited to get involved through membership in the AVA.

The New Veal

After decades of pariah status, veal is making a comeback.

Outrage in the 1980s at the cruel conditions under which young calves were raised made Americans lose their appetite for veal. It all but disappeared from restaurant menus and meat counters. But a new generation of farmers and ranchers has found a more humane way with veal from healthier animals that are raised outdoors under sustainable humane conditions.

Read more at: Barbecue Bible

Mom at the Meat Counter: Veal Processing

By Dr. Janeal Yancey

"To continue my series on the American Milk-fed veal industry, I’m going to write about my experience in the veal processing plants. In this series, I’ve already written an overview of the veal industry and about how the calves are fed and raised.

On our tour, hosted by the American Veal Association, we were invited to visit two veal processors in the Philadelphia area."

Read the full article at Janeal's blog Mom at the Meat Counter

Mom at the Meat Counter: Raising the calves… the American Milk-fed Veal Industry

By Dr. Janeal Yancey

In May, I was given the opportunity to attend a tour of the American Milk-fed Veal industry, hosted by the American Veal Association. I learned so much about veal that I decided that there was no way that I could squeeze it all into one post, so I am writing a series of posts about veal. Part 1 was an introduction to veal where I shared a few of the things that I didn’t know about veal. This post is going to cover how the calves are raised and fed.

Read the full article at Janeal's Blog Mom at the Meat Counter

Mom at the Meat Counter: Veal was a topic I didn’t feel very knowledgeable about

By Dr. Janeal Yancey

As a meat scientist I get lots of questions about all kinds of different meat, and most of the time, I feel pretty confident answering them. If I don’t know the answer, I definitely know someone who does. 

…unless I was asked about veal… Veal was one topic I didn’t feel very knowledgeable about.

Until… I was invited by the American Veal Association to attend a tour of the American milk-fed veal industry. 

Read the full article on Janeal's Blog Mom at the Meat Counter

Ag Daily: Veal Industry Has Changed - So Should Public's Perception

By Krista Stauffer, The Farmer’s Wifee

"I was recently invited by the American Veal Association to tour veal farms in Indiana and Pennsylvania. I reached out to a friend who worked in that sector a couple of years ago to learn more about veal farming. As a dairy farmer, I knew very little about veal farming and what I did 'know' was from the negative perception activists paint online. We do not have any veal farms in our area, and our bull calves are not raised as veal. I decided I need to get both sides of the story of raising veal calves so I could make my own judgment .” 

Read Full Article at: Ag Daily

Krista Stauffer, The Farmer’s Wifee, Janeal Yancey, PhD, University of Arkansas, Dale Bakke, President of the American Veal Association

Veal Farmer Interview

The Farmers Wifee blog

Many consumers may have heard negative information about the veal industry, but never heard directly from a veal farmer. Blogger, Krista Stauffer conducted an interview with a veal farmer from Wisconsin, allowing her audience to learn about veal production, animal care,  and housing systems.

View Full Article at: The Farmers's Wifee