How many months old are vest calves at slaughter?

Vest calves are typically around three months old at the time of slaughter. This age is optimal for achieving a balance between growth efficiency and meat quality. By this age, calves have generally reached a desirable weight while still being young enough to ensure tenderness in the meat.

When considering the development of vest calves, they are fed specially formulated diets that promote rapid growth within a short timeframe. The three-month age aligns well with standard industry practices for veal production, where younger animals are often sought for their more delicate flavor and texture.

Other ages listed—one month, two months, and four months—do not fit standard practices for veal production. One-month-old calves are still very dependent on their mothers’ milk and lack the necessary weight and muscle development for slaughter. Two-month-old calves are still transitioning from milk to solid feed, which may not provide adequate growth. Four months, while still relatively young, may lead to tougher meat as the calves grow and develop more muscle, which can alter the texture significantly. Therefore, three months is the ideal age for slaughter in terms of meat quality and industry standards.