Tag: dairy cattle welfare

Jonker Represents Dairy Globally an UN Meeting

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF Chief Science Officer Dr. Jamie Jonker spotlighted dairy’s global leadership in combating antimicrobial resistance at the United Nation General Assembly High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance held Sept. 26.

In his capacity as chair of the International Dairy Federation’s Science Program Coordinating Committee, Jonker represented dairy globally at the UN meeting in New York. IDF released in conjunction with the meeting its 2024 special edition of the IDF Animal Health Report, featuring a dedicated focus on antimicrobial resistance.

“The articles contain actionable information for the global dairy sector to accelerate progress on AMR control,” Jonker said in an IDF release announcing the publications. The September UN in New York meeting built on a 2016 pronouncement about antimicrobial resistance and had followed up with a second political declaration to focus on tangible commitments for outcomes by 2030, including antimicrobial use in livestock.

NMPF has been advocating for the U.S. government partners to make political declaration commitments that reflect the important role of antimicrobials for animal health, welfare, and food safety outcomes. Jonker has served as a member of the Global Leaders Group since February 2023.

FARM Program Releases New Resources, Prepares for Summer Events

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Animal Care Version 5 training for evaluators is underway in June, anticipating updated standards focusing on locomotion, disbudding, euthanasia practices, and colostrum management.

The Animal Care Version 5 Prep Guide distributed in April and May contains information to prepare farmers and evaluators for the July 1 release of new standards, led by farmers in consultation with the broader industry and developed over the past two years. In addition to the Prep Guide, veterinarians now have a dedicated page with information and resources related to FARM and from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners surrounding animal care best practices. The FARM Program also released May 1 the 2024-2025 Milk & Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual, as the foundational antibiotic stewardship resource.

FARM is also gearing up for its annual Evaluator Conference, July 22-23 in Lexington, KY. Every year the program also recognizes farmers and evaluators who excel in their commitment to demonstrating on-farm social responsibility through the FARM Excellence Awards. FARM is seeking nominations for four award categories, including: Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship, Workforce Development, and Evaluator of the Year.

Winners will be recognized at NMPF’s Joint Annual Meeting held in Phoenix during a special luncheon Oct. 23.

FARM Animal Care Kicks Off Version 5 Training

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

In preparation for new standards that go into effect July 1, the National Dairy FARM Program hosted the 2024 FARM Animal Care Version 5 trainer course Denver, CO from Jan. 9-11.

Nineteen trainers reviewed Version 5 revisions, discussed evaluation best practices, and calibrated animal observation scoring on a nearby farm. The trainers will manage training sessions to FARM’s 400 Animal Care evaluators throughout 2024. The first of those sessions for evaluators are Feb. 13-15 in Minneapolis, MN. That meeting will have training content for both seasoned and first-time FARM Animal Care evaluators.

Visit the FARM Program website to learn more about the FARM Animal Care Program evaluator expectations. Check back throughout Q1, as FARM will continue to release more Version 5 specific materials including an evaluation prep guide and reference manual.

The FARM Program’s aim is to continue to proactively communicate updates and prepare cooperatives, processors, and farmers during the first half of 2024, before new FARM Animal Care Version 5 standards are implemented.

FARM Program: Refined Animal Care Standards on the Way

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Highlights

  • Hosted more than a dozen meetings on updating FARM Animal Care standards
  • Unveiled new FARM Environmental Stewardship questionnaire enabling dairy farmers to better share their sustainability story
  • Provided resources and training to support farmers raising dairy calves through the Calf Care and Quality Assurance program
  • Convened working group to update Environmental Stewardship program

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program is refining and growing its Animal Care and Environmental Stewardship program areas in preparation for new versions in 2024 as it harnesses the latest science and best management practices with significant farmer leadership, feedback and stakeholder discussion.

FARM’s Animal Care program standards are revised every three years to reflect the most current science and best management practices within the dairy industry. Working closely with the FARM Animal Care Task Force and NMPF’s Animal Health and Well-Being Committee, those committees have been developing recommendations for Animal Care Version 5 throughout 2022, This effort has included over a dozen meetings and town hall discussions to review existing standards, incorporating results from an industry-wide survey into discussion and using other sources of feedback to inform recommendations to improve the program.

The FARM Animal Care Program this year has also co-led an initiative with National Beef Quality Assurance to elevate U.S. calf raiser standards by uniting around key best management practices. The Calf Care and Quality Assurance (CCQA) program was developed with an understanding of the diversity of calf-raising enterprises, being science and outcomes-based while maintaining facility type and size neutrality. CCQA’s animal care reference manual, online modules and self-assessment tool serve as a framework and valuable resource for the calf-raising industry.

FARM’s Environmental Stewardship program area has seen similar growth and development, unveiling a questionnaire that enables dairy farmers to better share their sustainability story. The Conservation Practice Questionnaire (CPQ) is an optional add-on to the existing Environmental Stewardship Version 2 evaluation, reporting dairy farmers’ field and dairy-level conservation practices. After the questionnaire’s pilot, refinement and approval process earlier this year, the CPQ has been fully integrated into evaluations for participating farms.

With the launch of Environmental Stewardship Version 3 on the horizon in 2024, the FARM Program has also convened a working group and is collaborating with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy to update the greenhouse gas model that powers the program. Work is underway to transition to a “process-based” model through work with RuFaS – an initiative involving researchers from across the country focused on environmental modeling of dairy farms. Shifting to a process-based model offers several benefits for addressing customer requests while offering more insights to farmers and FARM Program participants.