welfare

A Good Calf Commendation was awarded to Kalverliefde, a Dutch company that collaborates with small-scale organic and biodynamic farmers. They allow calves to stay with their mothers for up to three months, providing outdoor access, ample space, and comfortable resting areas to minimise stress. Photo: Canva
31-10 | News

Dairy industry pioneers and leaders in cow and calf welfare recognised

While the use of AI on farms is expanding, what sets this technology apart is the ability to show when a cow is thriving, as opposed to just spotting illnesses and ailments. Photo: Canva
13-08 | News

First globally: UK retailer invests in AI tech for dairy welfare

The research involved nearly 3,200 consumers aimed to identify the attributes that most important to them when buying meat or dairy products. Across all the surveyed countries, consumers consistently prioritised freshness, quality/taste and animal welfare as the most important attributes. Photo: Canva
07-06 | News

Consumers value animal welfare more than environmental sustainability

This long-awaited law will ensure that Britain will never return to the dark days of exporting up to 2.5 million sheep and calves annually to Europe or beyond for slaughter or fattening. Photo: Chris McCullough
21-05 | News

Great Britain becomes first European region to ban live animal exports

The Agency recommends adopting a system of five welfare levels, from the highest (A) to the lowest (E). Level E corresponds solely to compliance with the requirements imposed by European legislation on animal welfare, whether during rearing, transport or slaughter. Photo: Canva
13-05 | News

Why current animal welfare labelling is not enough

A cow being manipulated by an osteopath during the trial. Four EFOA osteopaths took part in the trial, manipulating Prim'Hostein cows. Photo: EFOA and Lab To Field
08-05 | News

Osteopathy: A new approach to improving dairy cow production?

Apart from brushes, enrichment opportunities in the dairy sector have been limited. Photo: Henk Riswick
22-04 | News

Researchers assess environmental enrichment for dairy cows

The dairy heifers trained with positive reinforcement showed more anticipatory behaviours in the start box than the control group. Photo: Canva
26-03 | News

Reducing dairy cow stress with positive reinforcement

The trial looks at keeping the cow and calf together for three months. Photos: Dr Sivan Lacker
04-03 | News

Israeli project examines benefits of keeping calves for longer with mothers

In their study published in the Journal of Dairy Science, researchers found that measuring non-verbal communication (in addition to common verbal communication) between vets and farmers during routine herd health consultations, is key to unlocking barriers for adopting biosecurity measures. Photo: Van Assendelft Fotografie
12-02 | Article

Drivers and barriers in disease control and welfare in dairy