Animal health and animal welfare

In addition to programmes, rules and agreements, our member dairy farmers do very specific things every day to take good care of their cows. For example, they provide a comfortable environment, pleasant temperature and the right feed.

• Always keeping watch

  Our farmers know exactly what healthy and content cows look like. They can tell how a cow is doing just by looking at how the animal moves and acts. Technical gadgets help to determine when milk production is different from normal, for example. More than anything, however, member dairy farmers use their practical knowledge. If a cow does not seem healthy and happy, the dairy farmer intervenes and provides the appropriate treatment so that the animal can get better. If a veterinarian is needed, all of our member dairy farmers always work with certified professionals.

• No unnecessary medicine use

  Our member dairy farmers’ cows only receive medication when they are really sick. The preventative use of antibiotics is prohibited. The use of antibiotics has fallen sharply in recent years – by nearly 50% since 2009. The Dutch approach to reducing the use of antibiotics is unique in the world. The use of antibiotics in dairy farming is now at such a low level that the Netherlands Veterinary Medicines Institute (SDa) considers it acceptable.
  
  Dairy farmers are only allowed to supply milk from healthy cows. The dairy farmer is obliged to monitor the health and welfare of his dairy cows. Three monitoring systems have been developed in the Netherlands, based on European legislation and requirements from the dairy sector. These systems are approved by the government, which also oversees these systems. If the score is unsatisfactory, animal health is checked more often by the vet.

• Comfortable environment for cows

  To keep our cows healthy, our member dairy farmers ensure good living conditions in the barn and in the meadow. In the barn, cows have soft beds, sufficient room to move and walk around, constant access to clean drinking water and plenty of feed. Many of our farmers also have solutions such as a milking robot, waterbeds and massage brushes. For example, cows can walk freely from the meadow into the barn when they want to be milked or stand against the huge brushes that then start to rotate. They don't think so only pleasant, they help cows get rid of their itching, remove loose hair or any dust and dried manure.

• Pleasant temperature in the barn

  A proper temperature in the barn is important for cows. The ideal temperature is anywhere between -5˚C and 18˚C. If the temperature rises above 21˚C, then it is too hot. In those conditions, a cow must work hard to keep its body cool, which may cause stress for the animal. In hot weather, the cows are kept as comfortable as possible by using fans or a mist shower or by cooling the roof. During a heat wave, barns are often more comfortable for cows than being outside in the meadow. That is why, during warm spells, they usually only go outside in the morning and in the evening.

• Optimal care for calves

  Just like cows, calves receive optimal care. Newborn calves have very low natural resistance so they require a lot of attention. Hygiene, good nutrition and the prevention of animal diseases are the main focus. All calves are given colostrum, which is the milk first produced by cows after calving. It is rich in important nutrients and helps the calf quickly build up its natural resistance. In addition, our farmers constantly monitor how much the calves are drinking and whether they are growing properly. Our calf-rearing programme enables our member dairy farmers to further optimise the care for their calves.