Transport and Culling Guidelines To Help Standardize Dairy Farm Practices
ARLINGTON, VA – In an effort to reinforce the importance of caring for dairy cattle at all stages of their lives, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), along with Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), today unveiled a basic educational poster that will be distributed to all dairy producers across America. The poster is printed on a barn-safe plastic sheet in both English and Spanish.
The legal-sized poster, entitled “Top 10 Considerations for Culling and Transporting Dairy Animals to a Packing or Processing Facility,” will serve as common industry guidelines for dairy producers to follow when they need to handle, transport, or cull their dairy animals. The document was developed by NMPF’s Animal Health and Welfare Committee, and will be distributed during the month of July through dairy cooperatives to their members. Producers who are not part of a cooperative can order a copy by calling 703-224-1381 or sending an email request to poster@nmpf.org. A copy of the poster can also be viewed at www.nmpf.org.
“Dairy farmers recognize their responsibility to provide appropriate care for their animals, which they do an excellent job of providing on a routine basis,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF. “However, sometimes we all need reminders of the best practices to follow. This poster will be a lasting and prominent reminder of those practices.”
“Veterinarians work with dairy farmers every day to make critical decisions about keeping their herds healthy. Some of those decisions involve when to remove animals from the herd, and this poster will help in that regard,” said Dr. Gatz Riddell, DVM, Executive Vice President of AABP.
The poster is part of a series of programs and measures supported by the dairy industry to highlight the importance of conscientious care of cattle. Other programs include the Dairy Quality Assurance Center’s “Caring for Dairy Animals” guide, which NMPF has also distributed to cooperatives and producers. This poster is derived in part from the science-based recommendations of the DQA program.
“Consumer interest in animal welfare will continue to grow, and all livestock producers will face increased scrutiny from the marketplace in years to come,” said Thomas Gallagher, CEO of DMI, which manages the national checkoff program on behalf of America’s dairy producers. “This poster demonstrates to farmers and consumers alike their shared interest in animal care and well-being.”
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 31 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 40,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more on NMPF’s activities, visit our website at www.nmpf.org.
The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) is an international association of veterinarians organized to enhance the professional lives of its members through relevant continuing education that will improve the well-being of cattle and the economic success of their owners, increase awareness and promote leadership for issues critical to cattle industries, and improve opportunities for careers in bovine medicine. Visit AABP’s website at www.aabp.org.
Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) is the nonprofit domestic and international planning and management organization responsible for increasing sales of and demand for U.S.-produced dairy products and ingredients on behalf of America’s dairy producers. DMI manages the American Dairy Association®, National Dairy Council® and U.S. Dairy Export Council®. Visit DMI’s website at www.dairyinfo.com.
To access an electronic copy of the "Top 10 Considerations for Culling and Transporting Dairy Animals to a Packing or Processing Facility", click here.
