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Clear labelling of products like eggs means that consumers can make an informed choice in the supermarket about animal welfare standards. If you want to find out more about the milk you buy and whether the cows have been able to graze outdoors, read more about what these labels can tell you.
Look out for free range milk labels
Although they aren’t yet in the supermarkets, it is possible to find milk labelled as free range in some smaller local stores and businesses. World Animal Protection has worked closely with Free Range Dairy, whose Pasture Promise™ label is the only one to give a clear assurance that milk comes from cows that enjoy the freedom to graze for at least six months of the year.
Find out more about the Pasture Promise label.
Waitrose & M&S
Waitrose and M&S are the only supermarkets to guarantee that that all the cows producing our own label fresh milk and cream have access at a minimum of 100 days grazing every year. For Waitrose, this is a guaranteed minimum, and the reality is that their cows usually spend far longer outside depending on the weather.
Soil Association
Organic dairy cows spend much of their lives outdoors where they can graze naturally on a diet of grass. Keeping cows indoors all their lives is banned under organic standards.
When they go indoors because of bad weather, all cows must be housed in well-bedded spacious yards. The time they spend indoors will never be more than one fifth of their lifetime. Organic cattle do not have to be housed during the winter, but if they are kept outside, there must be shelter, food and water.
Organic dairy cows are generally not pushed to their milk producing limits in the same way other cows can be. Average yields in organic milk production are around a third less than in intensive production.
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http://www.worldanimalprotection.org.uk/campaigns/factory-farming/are-supermarkets-going-to-listen?utm_medium=EMA&utm_source=farming&utm_campaign=FFM&utm_term=16003DIG001
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ALDI
May 2016 What they said… “Aldi is committed to animal welfare and it is important to us that our dairy cows are kept to a good welfare standard. Our Organic certified milk comes from cows that spend most of their lives outdoors to allow them to graze. To identify these, look out for the Soil Association Organic logo. In the UK, 100% of our fresh milk is British and certified to Red Tractor standards. Dairy cattle are fed in accordance with these requirements” What we say… We are really encouraged to hear of Aldi’s commitment to animal welfare, and are pleased to report that we are already working with them to ensure the best possible standards throughout their supply chains. Aldi use the Red Tractor scheme to ensure their milk quality. Although this benefits British farmers, it does not require farmers to allow cows any access to pasture. Some Red Tractor approved dairy farms could therefore have their cows kept indoors for their entire lives. Given the consumer demand for clearer labelling demonstrated by our campaign, we would encourage Aldi to make it much clearer to their customers that the only milk they currently sell that is from cows with guaranteed access to pasture is their organic range. Furthermore, we strongly encourage them to consider giving their customers a choice when it comes to their non-organic range which is clearly the most popular type in terms of volumes sold. |
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RRISONS
May 2016 What they said… “The majority of our suppliers graze cattle outside however a very small number of farms house their cattle for reasons that are specific to the farm. We are therefore not able to offer specific guidance about the amount of grazing hours on the standard milk we sell. However, all our organic milk uses field grazed cattle. All our milk suppliers are certified by the ‘Red Tractor’ assurance scheme to make sure there is good standards of hygiene, animal welfare and environmental care.” What we say… We are pleased to hear that the majority of Morrisons’ suppliers graze their cattle outside. We believe this outdoor access is fundamental for cows to be able to express their natural behaviour. We would however be very interested to find out how long their cows are allowed outdoors for during the year, and how Morrisons monitors this with their suppliers. Furthermore, we would like to learn more about the reasons why some farms feel unable to allow outdoor access and how Morrisons believes cow welfare is being adequately met in such environments. It’s great that Morrisons organic milk comes from cows that are allowed outdoors; but given the consumer demand for clearer labelling demonstrated by our campaign, we would encourage Morrisons to make it much clearer to their customers that the only milk they currently sell that is from cows with guaranteed access to pasture is their organic range. Additionally, we’d ask them to consider giving their customers a choice when it comes to their non-organic range which is clearly the most popular type in terms of volumes sold. Lastly, Morrisons state that they use the Red Tractor scheme to ensure their milk quality. Although this benefits British farmers, it does not require farmers to allow cows any access to pasture. Some Red Tractor approved dairy farms could therefore have their cows kept indoors for their entire lives. |
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THE COOPERATIVE
May 2016 What they said… “We know that the welfare of all animals within our farms is as important to you as it is to us. All of the farmers within our supply chain have signed up to our high welfare standards, and to make sure these are met we audited the farms ourselves throughout the year- checking that everything is how we expect it to be and that our farmers and cattle are both happy. None of our own brand milk is labelled as Free-range or Grazed, though as a farmer within our Dairy Group, we insist the cows are giving access to grazing pasture wherever possible. We realise that this is weather and seasonal dependent (even cows don't like getting wet) and when they don't have access to grazing we ensure that they have plenty of indoor space to move around, with lots of natural light and food to graze on as well as ensuring that they are kept together as cows are very social animals. All of our own brand milk is sourced from a dedicated group of 198 UK dairy farmers in England, Scotland and Wales which is known as the Co-operative Dairy Group. This was set up in 2011 as we recognised the need to offer help and support to those who produce high quality milk, along with the highest animal welfare standards that you would expect from The Co-op. We really do care about the welfare of our animals and all of our farms within the Dairy Group are monitored and audited on a farm-by-farm basis. We meet with them to assess the conditions on the farm and to check on the amount of grazing the herd has access too. As well as meeting our farmers individually, all of the group get together 3 times a year to discuss animal welfare and share best practice- a little thing we like to call Co-operation.” What we say… We highly commend the Cooperative to insisting that all of its farmers allows their cows access to pasture and grazing. We would like to hear more details, for example how the audits work and what results they have seen in terms of the number of days the cows do actually have access to pasture in practice. Given consumer demand for clear labelling of milk that has come from cows that have regular access to pasture, we strongly recommend that the Cooperative introduces a clear label for free-range milk so that their customers have the information they want when they purchase milk in store |
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@kenny mann.I think i share with you very strong views on the rights of our animal friends.I love all animals,birds,nature,etc and i feel strongly that all people should try and have a regard and a love for all living things.I've actually only recently given up eating meat but i have every intention to continue with that.I was unaware that only Waitrose and M&S have a policy that guarantes at least 100 days of grazing each year.Thanks for that info.All The Very Best.
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Just you and me then Culvin, I have other supermarkets to put up, maybe tomorrow.
Cows jumping for joy as they are released on to grass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKU2E0N8ja4&utm_medium=EMA&utm_source=farming&utm_campaign=FFM&utm_term=16003DIG001 |
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Cow Literally Dances For Joy And Shows Man Gratitude After Being Freed From Tiny Stable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNtStsw3rMo |
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All the best to you too Culvin. Good man.
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Happy Cows skipping out to grass for the first time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huT5__BqY_U |
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jersey milk - best titty milk out there.
add cream too - make it gold top. |
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great news imo. if we're going to eat animals at least give them the best life possible. it also produces better-tasting food. win/win
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government should just make it a law that all animals raised for food should be free range. no excuses with all the spare outdoor and country space the UK has
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I'm a Lactose free kinda guy. Should I be worried?
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To many chemicals in cows milk, coconut or hemp seed milk is best.
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Simple. If it comes from a cow don't drink it.
Dairy cows must give birth to produce milk. Dairy cows are continually artificially inseminated. Calves are dragged away from their mothers [can't have them drinking our milk]. Dairy cows are routinely euthenised after 4 years. They are worn out and unproductive. They lived for up to 25 years in the past producing milk before they were turned into milk factories. I urge you kenny to try some of the vegan versions of milk. I now only buy soy milk and make my own butter with cashews. On top of the animal rights/welfare issues it's much healthier as well. |
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Thanks for that pants. I've been on Alpro Almond Milk for about 3 years, and quite tasty it is.
That's interesting, and sad, although I knew they weren't treated at all well, although wasn't sure of all the gory details. Seems the organic milk producing cows get the best of a very bad deal/. Much better off than pigs though,poor things. More intelligent than a dog and trated worse than ****. |
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Thanks for the information Kenny. I knew cows were mistreated in the quest for ever higher yields/lower costs and it's even worse in the USA where hormones are freely used. Personally I don't touch milk or butter but do eat natural yoghurt and cheese. Don't see any alternative to those.
The answer is getting the supermarkets to pay an economic price for sympathetically farmed milk and being able to pass these on to the consumer. It's a ridiculous situation when bottled water costs more. |
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The problem is almond milk is about 2.5 x more expensive than cows milk. All this maltreatment of animals will come back to humans at some point. Maybe it already is. You can't cause that much suffering as a species and not have some consequences.
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