Dairy cattle - how can you help?

Many people are probably not aware of the key welfare issues facing dairy cattle when they buy their milk or cheese. Images of contented ‘free-range’ cows happily chewing the cud in the sunshine are the sorts of images usually shown when milk is advertised. Unfortunately, these images are not always an accurate reflection of real-life dairy farming. Here's how you can help make a difference:

 Write to your supermarket...

...and ask about the welfare standards the dairy cattle that supply their dairy products are inspected to, and whether they have a policy to prohibit the live export of dairy calves. In particular, you might like to ask about some of the key dairy cattle welfare issues and ask what steps they are taking to ensure improvements in dairy cow welfare. 

 You can also help by...

...writing, in your own words, your concerns about the need to improve dairy cattle welfare to your local MP, and to:
 
The Rt. Hon. Caroline Spelman MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
LONDON SW1P 3JR.

If you are concerned about farm animal welfare, you might be interested to learn about the welfare of some other types of farm animals.