Commercial calf slaughter was 7.5 million in 1955,5.2 million in 1975, and 2.2 million in 1989. These data clearly indicate the declining numbers of dairy calves available for slaughter or for further feeding. Most consumers consider veal to be a high priced, gourmet-type meat. By 1989 per-capita consumption of veal had dropped to 1.2 pounds and amounted to 0.9 percent of total red meat consumption. Substantial price increases since 1987 suggest even higher gross receipts in 1988 and 1989.
Dairy farmers are the initial beneficiaries of the formula-fed veal industry.
The veal feed manufacturing sector, located primarily in the Northeast and Midwest, annually produces around 250,000 tons of special feeds for formula-fed veal growers. The survey also provided data for estimating receipts at the packer-processor level. Estimated gross receipts. The production and distribution systems for the veal industry resemble the beef industry in many respects, although on a much smaller scale. The veal calf is not the primary product of the dairy enterprise, so the veal industry is dependent upon a production sector that views bull calves as a by-product of fluid milk production.