A NEW guide to 'Good Animal Welfare' in the dairy sector was released last week at the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Global Animal Welfare Forum in Paris.

The guide details key international standards and provides guidelines to help dairy farmers and milk processors interpret and implement them based on scientific evidence and expertise.

Five Action Areas have been identified which should be considered when developing and implementing quality management systems for dairy animal welfare, including; stockmanship, feed and water, physical environment, husbandry practices and health management.

“Farmers know that healthy cows produce quality milk, and the dairy sector is wholly committed to developing progressive animal health and welfare initiatives that provide safe, nutritious and secure dairy products to global consumers,” said International Dairy Federation director, Caroline Emond. “We are proud to contribute to the development of animal welfare expertise that brings benefits to animals, farmers and society.”

Director General of OIE, Monique Eloit, added: “We welcome the new version of the IDF guidelines on animal welfare in dairy cattle, which will, in line with the OIE international Standards on welfare of terrestrial animals, certainly support the dairy industry to meet the increasing demand of our society for a high level of welfare for livestock production systems.”

The new publication was released by the IDF, in collaboration with the OIE and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and ultimately promotes the implementation of good animal welfare practices in dairy production at a global scale.