The Farmers Mart Dec/Jan 2014 - Issue 31 | Page 33

DAIRY

SUPPORTING BETTER DAIRY
CAMPAIGN GOES TO BRUSSELS
The Supporting Better Dairy
campaign came a step closer to
achieving new European Union
(EU) rules to protect the welfare
of dairy cows, following a meeting
with Andrea Gavinelli, Head of
Animal Welfare at the European
Commission in Brussels last month.
The campaign - a coalition between Ben
& Jerry’s, Compassion in World Farming
and the World Society for the Protection
of Animals – is determined to improve
welfare standards for Europe’s 23 million
dairy cows.
Currently, there are no specific rules
in place to protect dairy cows’ specific
needs, unlike those of pigs, hens and
most other farm animals. It is estimated
that 10 million cows are currently
suffering from issues such as cramped
living conditions, a poor diet, health
problems and inadequate care and
would benefit from the protection of an

EU Directive, which would harmonise
standards and create a level playing field
for farmers.
The campaign says that more than a
third of dairy cows in the EU are “zerograzed”, with no access to pasture;
and one of the most prevalent health
problems is lameness. In the UK, it is
estimated that around 15 - 40% of cows
are lame, depending on the farming
system and management conditions. The
figures are even higher in Germany and
in the Netherlands .
The Coalition says: “With over a
quarter of a million signatures from
across the EU, we hope the Commission
will take species-specific legislation
for cows seriously. We look forward
to continued engagement with the
Commission as individual organisations,
to make sure the public’s concerns
about dairy cow welfare are acted
upon.”

The campaign is calling for “happy
cows” to reflect the need for both the
physical and psychological wellbeing of
dairy cows. Cows are curious, sociable
herd animals and show physical changes
associated with joy when problemsolving. Studies have shown they te