A SHOCKING video has revealed the horror cruelty shown to infant calves transported from Ireland to Europe.

In the clip, posted online by an animal rights group, the calves can be seen being beaten and kicked by workers in a holding centre in Cherbourg.

4 Footage has emerged of the shocking brutality shown to infant calves - believed to be travelling from Ireland - at a holding centre in France Credit: L214

4 In one distressing clip, a worker is seen striking several blows to the calves in the centre outside Cherbourg Credit: L214

4 Above, a lifeless calf is shown in the shocking footage secretly filmed at the transit centre where it's thought up to 3,000 calves are unloaded every 12 hours Credit: L214

4 In another distressing scene, a calf is seen being kicked as it lies motionless on the floor of the stall Credit: L214

The clip was filmed during a joint operation between animal rights groups L214 and Eyes on Animals during a survey of 23 livestock trucks travelling from Ireland to France during February and March this year.

Last year, Ireland exported more than 100,000 calves to Europe - mainly to Spain and the Netherlands - the group has said.

During the journey - thought to be up to 50 hours in transit and described as "real hell" by activists - the calves are unloaded at a holding centre in Tollevast, near Cherbourg, where the animal rights groups filmed the brutal treatment endured by the infants using hidden cameras.

SHOCK FOOTAGE

Between 2,500 and 3,000 calves are unloaded at the centre every 12 hours, the group claim, before being reloaded into the trucks to continue the journey to the Netherlands.

In the shocking clips, calves can be seen being handled violently, receiving multiple blows to the head with sticks and even kicked.

One horror shot shows a worker throw a calf to the ground before repeatedly jumping on its body.

Other distressing footage shows a calf dragging its back legs along the ground. In another frame, a worker appears to kick a lifeless calf as it lies on the ground.

'CRUELTY' ARREST

According to local media, a man was arrested for cruelty after the groups reported the footage to the High Court in Cherbourg.

Le Dauphine reports the man was later released to be summoned to court at a later date.

Cherbourg prosecutor Yves St Clair said it is an "isolated act" and the investigation is "about acts of cruelty by an individual".

The group allege that the calves - aged between two to three weeks - are "weakened by travel, hungry and thirsty because of the lack of adequate feeding systems on board trucks" and can be travelling for up to 50 hours.

Sébastien Arsac, co-founder of the L214 association, said: "The transport of young calves over long distances is intolerable.

"These calves, just out of their mother's womb, endure more than 50 hours of transport in terrible conditions: piled up to 300 in 3-level livestock, thirsty, manipulated with violence, they live a real hell."

He added: "The European Union must stop the transport of unweaned calves and other infant animals. As consumers, we can act directly by replacing dairy products with plant alternatives as much as possible. "

A petition has been launched by the groups to lobby the European Commission to ban the transport of infants across the continent.

The Department for Agriculture Food and Marine told The Irish Sun that Ireland has "strict control" in relation to the welfare of animals during transport and condemned "any ill treatment of livestock".

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A spokesperson for the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine said: "The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine condemns in the strongest terms any ill treatment of livestock and would urge any persons who have direct knowledge or evidence of breaches of animal welfare to report it directly to the relevant Authorities without any delay.

"In relation to the export of live animals, 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.

"Prior to export all livestock undergo an animal health and welfare check carried out by a Department Official Veterinarian to ensure that only fit and healthy livestock are certified for export.

"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."