Veal calves from Ireland were beaten, hit in the face and jumped on by workers at a resting post for live exports in France, secret footage has revealed.

Some were kicked and hit so hard they collapsed in the shocking scenes filmed during an investigation into the treatment of live exports.

It is the first time such brutal and illegal violence towards animals sent to Europe has been caught by hidden cameras.

We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view. From 15p €0.18 $0.18 USD 0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.

Ireland has increased the number of calves it sends to the EU – which now stands at 160,000 a year – and it plans to increase them further.

The footage reveals a worker at the centre near Cherbourg casually beating calves on their faces with a rod, then forcefully hitting one facing a different way.

left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch.

1/16 Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A crowded transport truck Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 2/16 Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A thirsty pig on transport truck is given water by a Melbourne Pig Save activist Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 3/16 Toronto, Canada Pigs being transported to slaughter in freezing weather Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 4/16 Toronto, Canada A volunteer gives water to thirsty pigs Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 5/16 Toronto, Canada Pigs en route to an abattoir 6/16 Canada A cow looks out of transport truck just outside the slaughterhouse gates Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 8/16 Australia A pig finds some air at a sale yard Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 9/16 Toronto, Canada Pigs in a transport lorry en route to an abattoir Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 10/16 Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A pig in a transport truck touches noses with a man Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 11/16 Melbourne, Australia, 2017 Chickens in transport crates Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 12/16 Spain, 2014 A rabbit's nose and feet poke out from between plastic crates Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality 14/16 Nepal, 2017 A chicken looks out through fencing on a crowded transport truck Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals 15/16 Spain Broiler chickens are captured and loaded into transport crates for slaughter Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality 1/16 Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A crowded transport truck Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 2/16 Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A thirsty pig on transport truck is given water by a Melbourne Pig Save activist Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 3/16 Toronto, Canada Pigs being transported to slaughter in freezing weather Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 4/16 Toronto, Canada A volunteer gives water to thirsty pigs Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 5/16 Toronto, Canada Pigs en route to an abattoir 6/16 Canada A cow looks out of transport truck just outside the slaughterhouse gates Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 8/16 Australia A pig finds some air at a sale yard Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 9/16 Toronto, Canada Pigs in a transport lorry en route to an abattoir Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 10/16 Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A pig in a transport truck touches noses with a man Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 11/16 Melbourne, Australia, 2017 Chickens in transport crates Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 12/16 Spain, 2014 A rabbit's nose and feet poke out from between plastic crates Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality 14/16 Nepal, 2017 A chicken looks out through fencing on a crowded transport truck Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals 15/16 Spain Broiler chickens are captured and loaded into transport crates for slaughter Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality

Many animals – unweaned and still needing their mothers’ milk – are grabbed by the ears and dragged to the feeders.

As the animals drink, the worker needlessly hits them on their backs. When one tries to muscle its way in between others, the worker hauls it away and slams it to the ground.

Another is roughly pulled off a feeder, beaten and violently shoved back again.

But the most horrific scenes are of the worker jumping and stamping on a calf.

Another animal is so badly injured that it was filmed dragging itself along by just its front legs.

Later, as it lay helpless, it was kicked by a worker.

Investigators said the men yelled as they rushed at the calves.

The resting post is certified by the EU as a “high-quality” one and has received subsidies for renovations.

Activists from the Eyes on Animals and French L214 groups who revealed the “horrific” abuse said the young animals were already exhausted and thirsty from journeys of over 18 hours from Rosslare to Cherbourg when they were unloaded near Tollevast.

The calves were already very weak, suffering exhaustion, lack of feed, lack of water and lack of rest Nicola Glen, Eyes on Animals

French media have reported that a man has been arrested for cruelty.

At least 2,500 calves are unloaded at the centre every 12 hours before being reloaded for journeys to Dutch veal farms, activists say.

A report by investigators said the handling of the calves was “violent and shocking” and that neither other workers nor the manager intervened.

Nicola Glen, of Eyes on Animals, said: “The calves were suffering stomach upsets, especially diarrhoea, and were already very weak, suffering exhaustion, lack of feed, lack of water and lack of rest due to overcrowding.”

Ireland’s live exports are rising and deputies are lobbying for further increases. Last year the country sent 246,000 cattle, including 160,000 calves, abroad, an increase of 30 per cent on 2017, which also had a rise of 30 per cent on 2016, a report shows.

Northern Ireland also exports an estimated 25 per cent of male dairy calves to veal facilities, mostly in the Netherlands.

French authorities have approved extra capacity of 400 animals at Cherbourg, bringing the official capacity to 1,200 a week.

Irish agriculture minister Michael Creed told deputies: “I will continue to advocate on behalf of exporters on this issue,” adding: “What I will not do, however … is facilitate live exports through the breaching of regulations.”

L214 and Eyes on Animals are lobbying the EU to ban all transport of unweaned animals.

In February, MEPs voted for maximum journeys of one-and-a-half hours for unweaned animals.

A spokesperson for Ireland’s agriculture department said it condemned “in the strongest terms” any ill treatment of livestock and urged anyone with knowledge or evidence of breaches of regulations to report it.

“Ireland applies strict controls in relation to welfare of animals including during transport and has procedures and checks in place to ensure compliance with EU and national legislation,” the statement said.

“Prior to export all livestock undergo an animal health and welfare check by a department official veterinarian.

“All trucks are inspected and checked for water, spacing and other legislative requirements prior to departure. Where non-compliance is identified, appropriate remedial action is taken.”

A spokeswoman for the French government office of animal protection said the footage was “absolutely dismaying”.

She added: “All the relevant people have just been informed in France (at the local level as well as at the national level). Measures will be urgently taken so that this individual cannot continue to harm young calves.” The worker should be heavily punished, she said.