Steers euthanised during 2023 (FOI)

​Request

A

How many steers (castrated male cows) were slaughtered during 2023?

B

How many came from Jersey's organic farms?

C

At what age are steers slaughtered?

Response

A

162 steers were processed through the abattoir in 2023.

B

The Government of Jersey can neither confirm nor deny whether any of the steers were processed through the abattoir in 2023 were from organic farms, therefore Article 10(2) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

This information would also be exempt under Article 33(b) (Commercial Interests) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 as the information is considered to be commercially sensitive.

Article 33 is a qualified exemption; therefore, a public interest test has been applied and is shown at the end of this response.

C

Steers are processed through the abattoir at approximately two years or under thirty months as this is size dependant.

Articles applied

Article 10 - Obligation of scheduled public authority to confirm or deny holding Information

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if –

(a) a person makes a request for information to a scheduled public authority; and

(b) the authority does not hold the information, it must inform the applicant accordingly.

Article 33 - Commercial interests

Information is qualified exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes a trade secret; or

(b) its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of a 

Public interest test

The release of the information regarding cattle from Jersey’s organic farms could potentially disadvantage their business.

It is in the public interest to be made aware of details regarding the processing of cattle from  Jersey’s organic farms.  However, it is considered that the likely prejudice to their businesses, should this information be released outweigh the argument that the release is in the public interest.