this is bbc news. the headlines: four people have died as hurricane florence lashes down on the us east coast, knocking out power to 600,000 homes. a mother and child were killed when a tree fell on their house in wilmington. a super typhoon has hit the north—east of the philippines, making landfall in baggao, with winds of over 200 kilometres per hour. more than 4 million people are directly in the path of the storm and thousands have been evacuated. officials have warned of storm surges of up to six metres. president trump's former campaign manager, paul manafort, has pleaded guilty to two charges relating to his former role as a lobbyist in ukraine. as part of a plea deal, he will co—operate with the investigation into russian electoral interference. the white house say the new deal has nothing to do with mr trump. now on bbc news, the investigative journalist samantha poling takes a journey into the controversial world of live animal exports.

she uncovers some shocking truths about what happens to the male calves the scottish dairy industry has no use for. and she goes on the trail of a live cattle shipment across europe to see for herself the long journeys they endure. it isa it is a controversial trade. these animals are babies. the age that they are when they arrive is three weeks. i am on the trail of cattle trucks across europe. six days, two fairies, five countries. that was the most stressful journey fairies, five countries. that was the most stressfuljourney i think i have ever begun. —— ferries. i discovered the bleak choice farmers are faced with. the alternative argument may well be that you just have to shoot this animal. tonight i investigate the dark side of dairy. it is auction day at one of the

busiest marks an the uk. part of today's sale of these dairy bull calves, somejust today's sale of these dairy bull calves, some just two weeks old. dairy farmers don't want them because in an industry which relies on milk from female cattle, boys are surplus to requirements. these guys are only between two and four weeks of age and they are absolutely tiny. every now and again they come up and try and suck on your fingers. in scotland, what happens to these surplus bouye cars is at the heart ofa surplus bouye cars is at the heart of a deeply controversial trade ——

boy calves. it is one which i am setting out to investigate. galloway, the heart of the scottish dairy industry. this business is all about milk. to get cows to produce it, they need to have calves, but in the vast majority of dairy farms those calves are then taken away from their mums atjust a few days old so that we can drink the milk. david finlay grew up in that business and it has left its mark. when you take a calf away from its mum, what is that process like, for the calf, the mum, for the farmer? well, it is something as a farmer that you just do, you get on with it, it is part of the job and you

need to take the calf away because you need the milk. the calf at that point of course knows no better, although instinct tells them something is a bit funny, a bit odd. the mother, well, it varies. sometimes they just walk the mother, well, it varies. sometimes theyjust walk over to the feed and start eating and you thought they haven't even noticed. and then there is other is that would bawl four days. really? , yeah. and that was probably the distressing sight of it. that affects you now talking about it. cut. it is notjust that calves are normally taken away from their mothers. mail calves obviously can't join the milking herd. in europe they are often slaughtered around 20

weeks of age for veal but that is not popular with uk consumers —— male. and the industry says there is no market for them here. so these dairy calves are essentially a waste product and that has led to a dark trade. the export of calves to europe. these are irish animals being exported for veal in the netherlands. the images were taken by campaign group eyes on animals. 0ne by campaign group eyes on animals. one of its investigators is nicola glen. she has been looking into the scottish trade, one that saw more than 5000 animals shipped to spain and italy last year. that is a massive increase on the few hundred just two years ago. nicola glen has

obtained officialjourney logs, which established that almost every fortnight for the last two years shipments of calves have been leaving scotland. they left the port ona leaving scotland. they left the port on a p&0 ferry in northern ireland where they continued theirjourney to the southern island, they caught the ferry in dublin with an onward journey to spain. how long did this journey to spain. how long did this journey take? this journey would have taken journey take? this journey would have ta ken around journey take? this journey would have taken around six days. the logs say that calves are a loaded and rested several times during the journey as legislation demands, but nicola glen thinks the journey itself is unacceptable. these animals are babies and they are not adapted to cope with these sort of journeys. the longer the journey it has been proven scientifically that more suffering is involved for those

animals. campaigners subject to long journeys for calves because they can't control their own temperature and don't have developed immune systems. but the alternative to exported is potentiallyjust as bleak. right now, farmers in scotla nd bleak. right now, farmers in scotland say these animals are worth some little that it is either ship them or shoot them at perth. are we co mforta ble them or shoot them at perth. are we comfortable with either of those? -- birth. we are certainly not co mforta ble birth. we are certainly not comfortable with shooting them because no farmer wants to shoot anything. we are in the business of trying to produce good food for people to consume. but exporting calves at the age of two weeks old, is that something we are comfortable with? i don't think we are particular comfortable with it. it certainly would be the bottom of the list of wants for what we do with those calves. but if we come down to the point where it is that or shooting them, then it is marginally better. it doesn't sound like much

ofa better. it doesn't sound like much of a choice. but if i am to understand the favoured option of export better, then i'm going to have to get closer to the trade itself. all i've got to go on is the journey logs. they show that animals travel on the same boat every two weeks mainly to spain, but also to italy. i start to watch the port of cairnryan and the roads around it. there is the occasional brief glance of dairy calves in trucks. 0ne whole yeari of dairy calves in trucks. 0ne whole year i noticed it's the exact pattern of the journey logs —— haulier. that's the second time i've seen this truck. the first time two weeks ago. tonight. so i'm going to try and follow that truck. two weeks

later i pick it up on the road to the port. this truck is loaded with scottish dairy calves down to spain. immediately the boat arrives, the truck and its cattle had to an inspection point. and they seem to be checking their cattle. that's the truck leaving now. the journey logs tell me the truck is headed for one of two control points. a place where ca i’s of two control points. a place where cars can be unloaded —— calves can be unloaded, fed and rested but in the dark countryside it is difficult

to follow without being spotted, so i pull back. and the truck disappears into the darkness. um, we have lost the truck, which is not ideal. trying to keep an eye on a control post for 31 hours was very difficult. but we know according to the paperwork where it is due to arrive next, and that's france. it is 10:15am on sunday morning and iamat it is 10:15am on sunday morning and i am at the port or sure bought in france and the boat which left the port of ross lay yesterday is just pulling into the dock. i'm hoping my truck is going to be on this boat. within minutes of arriving, truck after truck carrying livestock roll off the boat. i am beginning to get

a sense of the scale of the trade. since january this year more than 100,000 cattle have been shipped to mainland europe from ireland. a lot of them to be reared until ready for slaughter, a process called fattening. my truck isn't on this boat. i am going to have to head into the control post in the hope that they arrive. that's not a cattle truck... suddenly, here it is. the last livestock truck to come off the ferry. the crossing took 17 hours. the animals weren't unloaded and spent all that time inside the lorry. and they're straight into an overla nd lorry. and they're straight into an overland crossing. 0h, we've got the truck. 0h, we've got the truck. 0h!

after several hours on the road, the truck pulls into a service station. by truck pulls into a service station. by law, the driver gets a break of at least 45 minutes every four and a half hours. the animals don't. they met left in the truck, in the heat of the afternoon sun —— they're left in the truck. finally, we get a chance to see what's inside the truck. but there is a surprise. these aren't the calves i know were on board when this truck left for scotland. these animals are older. but this truck is clearly a key link in the export chain. so i decide to see where they end up. the driver returns from his break and checks the animals. he spots something

wrong with one of the cattle. and then does this. he takes a long stick from underneath the truck and then repeatedly pushes it through then repeatedly pushes it through the bars. as we head through the south for france, the temperature rises. the truck is specially adapted to keep the animals cool. legally the temperature in the lorry shouldn't exceed 30 degrees. we know it is that hot outside. the truck keeps going. near the swissport are,

the truck pulls off the route and into an anonymous facility in an industrial state. it passed up and unload the cattle in the sheds, which isjust as unload the cattle in the sheds, which is just as well. they have beenin which is just as well. they have been in the lorry for 29 one half hours. the legal maximum is 30. —— 29 and a half. 0ver hours. the legal maximum is 30. —— 29 and a half. over the next 2a animals the animals are rested off the truck. that's a legal requirement. this facility is a control point, like the ones i didn't get a chance to see in northern ireland. i keep watch. when they upload it back into the truck they upload it back into the truck the next evening, there is a worrying sight. the poll is out again and this time it is clear as day. i watch as the driver repeatedly hits the cattle, forcing them back into the lorry they spent them back into the lorry they spent the majority of the last few days it is now our fifth night on the

road. the driver continues to make the stops he is meant to. as all breaks, we are as far east as milan. —— as dawn breaks. as we near venice, the truck turns off the main road. previous journey venice, the truck turns off the main road. previousjourney logs venice, the truck turns off the main road. previous journey logs have shown c calves and other cattle being transported to northern italy from scotland. finally, six days after starting out, our truck comes toa after starting out, our truck comes to a stop. i don't know if you can

see, but our truck is just reversing itself into position to offload the animals. that was the most stressful journey i think i've ever done. and ican journey i think i've ever done. and i can only assume this is the final destination because i cannot see how those animals can do any more. and they won't have to do. this is their final destination. when i contact the hollies they don't want to be interviewed, but they confirm that when the truck left scotland it was carrying calves. they were dropped off somewhere in northern ireland to be shipped on to spain. the animals we saw, from sure balk onwards, were picked up in southern ireland, and taken to italy, eitherfor breeding 01’ taken to italy, eitherfor breeding orfattening and taken to italy, eitherfor breeding or fattening and slaughter. taken to italy, eitherfor breeding orfattening and slaughter. —— cherbourg. the company also said the driver used a stick both to ensure

the cattle were standing and fit for the cattle were standing and fit for the journey, and to the cattle were standing and fit for thejourney, and to protect the cattle were standing and fit for the journey, and to protect himself and moving large animals. —— when moving. back home in scotland, i show our footage to someone who has spent more than 20 years highlighting abuses in the export trade. more than 20 years highlighting abuses in the export tradelj more than 20 years highlighting abuses in the export trade. i think as soon as you see people prodding animals with sticks through the shuts, that is worrying. —— slats. it looks like he is notjust prodding but hitting the animal, and thatis prodding but hitting the animal, and that is totally unacceptable. one of peter stephenson's the frustrations is that scottish calves like the one i have seen, face export. calves born in england don't. the uk government is considering banning all export forfattening

government is considering banning all export for fattening and slaughter. the scottish government isn't, saying shipping is better than shooting. i think that's scotland's reputation for good welfare is being undermined by the scottish government's clumsy attempt to justify this inhumane trade. scotland's position on calf export means the animals will keep on coming here to spain. thejourney logs say calves are arriving in catalonia and according to the paperwork this is where they ship to, a control post run by a company called vilotta. the owner will not be interviewed but is happy to take a call from me. the cattle from scotla nd a call from me. the cattle from scotland that arrive here, or at vilotta, what is happening to that couple? —— cattle. it is for fattening? all of them ?

couple? —— cattle. it is for fattening? all of them? thank you for your time, fattening? all of them? thank you foryourtime, i fattening? all of them? thank you for your time, i appreciate that. so, all of the cattle from scotland are coming here for fattening and fattening only, he says, before slaughter. the age they are in they arrive here is three weeks of age. spain hasa arrive here is three weeks of age. spain has a huge agricultural economy yet it doesn't have enough be. we have too much. —— beef. at why must the animals be brought here alive? i travelled to madrid to meet the man who tells me the answer is in the profits to be made along the supply chain. what happens is that we have an economic interests. we have the meat industry, we have transport companies, we have importers and we have exporters. and eve ryo ne importers and we have exporters. and everyone is taking money in this business. for animal rights campaigners like alberto diaz, any welfare abuse is a burden. but the

next step in the supply chain he is telling me about isn't anything i expected. the vast majority stay in spain, in catalonia, for two months, two and a half months, and afterwards they enter the general market of cows. and in the general market, that is the middle east and north africa. and in my opinion that is where the real horrible animal food situation starts. this is what happens once the cattle leave spain. shipped to north africa, where they will be taken straight to a slaughterhouse. can we be 100% sure that scottish cattle and up like that? --

that scottish cattle and up like that? —— end up. no. but can we be 100% sure that they don't end up like that? equally, no. because this isa like that? equally, no. because this is a massive part of the meat industry here in spain. is it a cce pta ble industry here in spain. is it acceptable to say, once an animal leaves our waters “— acceptable to say, once an animal leaves our waters —— borders, wants an animal leaves what we can control, it is ok? i'm not sure ifi would say it is acceptable. i think it is the real world at the moment. and we would obviously prefer to be able to control everything but i think we have to be realistic. so if a cce pta ble think we have to be realistic. so if acceptable means, do we reluctantly accepted, then the answer is yes. —— accepted, then the answer is yes. —— accept it. the south-west of scotla nd accept it. the south-west of scotland is key to all of this. not

only is it at the heart of the dairy trade, but it also has the most vital link in the export chain. the port. ferry companies elsewhere in the uk won't carry cars —— calves for fattening the uk won't carry cars —— calves forfattening and the uk won't carry cars —— calves for fattening and slaughter direct to the continent. so the only way to export the dairy calves is to move them via northern ireland and then south. i watched p&0 carry the animals from cairnryan to lan. yet its own policy says "we will not ship any livestock intended for fattening or slaughter". but i know the calves going to spain are destined for fattening and slaughter. when i asked p&0 about that it tells me it cooperates with the scottish government on the shipping of livestock from cairnryan to lairne for onward transportation to lairne for onward transportation to the continent. so, p&0 say it is

decision is made here at the scottish government which are driving its business. we know the government has commissioned research into animal welfare during ship once, and officials have observed them. i want to know how it views them. i want to know how it views the trade and p&0's involvement in it. p&0 the trade and p&0's involvement in it. p&o going against their the trade and p&0's involvement in it. p&0 going against their own regulations for that, i mean, that's. .. i wouldn't regulations for that, i mean, that's... i wouldn't know how to respond to that. they are laying it out to your door. and saying they are working with us? again, i wasn't aware of their own regulations, but that was contrary to their own regulations. how do you see yourself ina regulations. how do you see yourself in a position where you. this export? live animal transportation is something that is important for scottish agriculture, it is important for our island communities. we just need to important for our island communities. wejust need to make sure it is done as humanely as possible and that we uphold the highest possible standards in terms of animal welfare. this is a financial decision for you? it is

not as straightforward as that. it isa not as straightforward as that. it is a case of looking at all the information that comes forward and also trying to balance that with our rural communities in agriculture in scotla nd rural communities in agriculture in scotland because that is vitally important as well. the scottish government says it will take note of any changes in england's, but currently the options for calves here remain shoot them or ship them. but deep in the galloway countryside, another option is taking shape. back on david findlay‘s farm, he is trying to break the mould. you can see coming up break the mould. you can see coming up the hind are the calves. the calves are still with their mothers. this is nearly five months after calving. and these are dairy cows. so that is almost unique. this experiment of keeping calves and their mothers together means both less milk and immediate profit for

the farmer. they are keeping the milk that they can hold onto for the car. you have to sit there, presumably, and do that mathematical equation and say, ok, i'm not getting the milk but further down the line... i have to trust in the numbers. and those numbers are based on these cards. when they are 18 months or so, they will go for slaughter, and david findlay will having come from the sale to compensate for what he has lost in milk, and the calves will have lived with their mothers until they are weaned. it has already got the attention of the wider industry. weaned. it has already got the attention of the wider industrym we can make it profitable at current prices, then the question then becomes the one which we are really aiming for, which is, and it is the one the industry doesn't want to hear, which is, ok, if you can do it...| hear, which is, ok, if you can do

it... i know, the policymakers won't change anything, the supermarkets won't change anything, nobody will change anything because it is working for them just now. the only thing that will change as public perception and public perception is changed sufficiently, then the rest will follow. milk means calves. but consumers potentially do have power over what happens to the ones the industry doesn't need. calves born on this farm will have 18 months with their mums before slaughter. calves born elsewhere won't. and there is a massive world of difference. the question i am asking is, are we comfortable with that difference? the end result is still the same. the cattle will go to slaughter. but the journey to get there is just worlds apart. the day after this programme was

first broadcast, p&0 ferries said it would cease transporting young calves across the irish sea, destined for continental europe, with immediate effect. hello again. before we take a look at the weather here in the uk lets have a round—up with what is happening with those storms elsewhere in the world. for northern parts of the philippines battered by violence typhoon mangkhut, that is heading out into the south china sea. won't be far away from hong kong on sunday, not as powerful by that stage. back over the pacific into north america where we find florence, weakening overland. this weekend it will continue to bring flooding rains to the carolinas. this area of cloud contains remnants of annex hurricane heading our way next week. this weekend, that of a mixed bag. wetter and windy weather

developing in the north—west, pushing its way into england and wales on sunday. the best of the weather is going to be in the south—east. we still have this link of the drizzly rain here across northern england, perhaps even into northern england, perhaps even into north wales. the wetter weather arrives as the winds pick up through the afternoon across northern ireland and eventually into western scotland. elsewhere, a lot of dry weather, a difference in temperatures and sunshine in north—eastern scotland is 15 and 16 and the sunshine in southern parts of england and wales, 20 or 21. through the evening and overnight you can see how this rain develops more widely in northern ireland and scotland. some pretty heavy rain, getting quite windy as well. some of that will edge over the irish sea, but towards the south—east it will be dry and clear. across the board looks like quite a warm night on saturday night. we will see the rain moving away from scotland and northern ireland, replaced by sunshine and quite a few showers in the north—west, but you can see how that rain will get stuck across northern england and wales, not far from the south—west. the east

midlands, east anglia and the south—east are likely to be warm, but towards the north—west of the uk it isa but towards the north—west of the uk it is a different story. quite a bit cooler with those showers coming in towards the south—east, those temperatures continuing to creep up and up. as we head into the early pa rt and up. as we head into the early part of next week, this area of low pressure contains remnants of ex— hurricane helen, and it looks like thatis hurricane helen, and it looks like that is going to drive its way quickly northwards up the western side of the uk. still some uncertainty about the detail. the winds really look like they will be picking up as it sweeps north of us, threatening to bring heavy rain briefly as well. this system has come from a long way south and contains tropical air, which will really be felt in particular across the east and south—east of the uk on monday and tuesday. it will not be quite as warm and the north—west of the uk. some stronger winds and a bit of rain for a while, but towards the south—east, this is where temperatures will continue to climb into the mid—20s. this is bbc news.

i'm nuala mcgovern. our top stories: hurricane florence is pounding the carolina coast with powerful winds and devastating rains. the first fatailities are reported and there could be worse to come. as far as i know, the eye is still off the coast and it is heading south, so we could be in this wind for a long time. super typhoon mangkhut has made landfall in the northwestern philippines, with winds of over 200 kilometres per hour. thousands of people are being moved to safety. the manager of this hotel has taped up the windows to stop them from blowing in the comes. livelihoods, properties and lives are all at risk tonight. —— from blowing in when the storm comes. livelihoods, properties and lives are all at risk tonight.