5 July 2016

2 minute read

Held in Berlin on 28 June, winners were announced from North and South America, Australasia, China and Europe demonstrating that awareness of farm animal welfare is rising in the public and business consciousness globally.

The welfare of thousands of dairy cows and calves will be positively affected by this year’s two Good Dairy Award winners and two Good Dairy Commendation recipients.

Rachel’s which makes organic dairy products was awarded a full Good Dairy Award. All cows from the company's suppliers are given access to seasonal grass grazing and Rachel’s have committed to implementing a welfare outcome programme as well as selling their non-replacement calves into higher welfare systems.

Other dairy award winners included Pret a Manger, Bel Portugal and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Tracey Jones, Director of Food Business at Compassion said: “Providing dairy cows with access to pasture grazing not only allows them access to a natural high fibre diet, but provides them with choice – choice to be in or outdoors, choice to lie comfortably with their preferred partners, choice to be in the sun or the shade.

"Choice is a major component of providing for the mental wellbeing of the animals we rear for our food.

"Our Good Dairy Award winners demonstrate that a real step change in attitudes and approach towards dairy cow and calf welfare is taking place and recognition that more needs to be done to provide for both their physical and physiological welfare.”

TheCattleSite News Desk