RSPCA welfare standards for Dairy Cattle

The RSPCA welfare standards for dairy cattle, developed by the RSPCA's Farm Animals Department, are used to provide the only RSPCA-approved scheme for the rearing, handling, transport and slaughter of dairy cattle. They take account of legislation, government welfare codes, scientific research, veterinary advice, recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) and the practical experience of the farming industry. The standards are based upon the "Five Freedoms" as defined by FAWC (hence the name "Freedom Food"), and provide a comprehensive framework for the assessment of animal welfare on farm, in transit and at the place of slaughter, as well as representing an important element of farm assurance requirements. The Five Freedoms are: Freedom of hunger and thirst; Freedom from discomfort; Freedom from pain, injury or disease; Freedom to express normal behaviour; and Freedom from fear and distress. Table of Contents: Introduction; Food and water; Environment; Management; Health; Transport; Slaughter/killing; Appendix 1: Herd biosecurity; Appendix 2: Standard operating and emergency procedures; Appendix 3: DairyCo mobility scoring; Index. Supplementary standards for the rearing of calves (2013) are also included and must be read in conjunction with the RSPCA welfare standards for Dairy Cattle. Please click here for the supplementary standards for the rearing of calves (2013).

66 pages. PDF: 1,849KB. The standards are continually reviewed and revised by the department. Please NOTE: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. To read the latest version of this publication, please click here. To see information on the other welfare standards reports on chicken; turkeys; domestic/common ducks; laying hens; pullets (laying hens); pigs; beef cattle; sheep; farmed Atlantic salmon; and hatcheries, please click here.

ISBN: 1898331839

 Price: Online version: Free of charge