Carbon footprint. Whey – a by-product of cheesemaking – can damage the environment; but it has been used to produce pig feed for many years. All rights reserved. Producing high-quality milk, caring for the cattle, ensuring there is sufficient, good quality feed for the winter months all demands the daily commitment of the farmer, their staff and their family. This both improves their life span and their fertility. The videos you see of cows being packed in like sardines are filmed at the latter. The talk on animal welfare with speakers from Compassion inWorld Farming started by stating that animal health and human health are linked and animals farmed in a higher welfare manner produce better milk. AWA farmers are known for top quality products, with 122 AWA cheeses winning 27 awards like: Ø Gold … Animals die. According to various studies, it also reduces the greenhouse gas emissions in conjunction with the digestion of the feed in the stomach. Switzerland is renowned for its beautiful landscapes. The Cheese Geek, as you can probably tell, is committed to running in the most ethical way possible and continue to encourage these progressive practices. This is the standard our family has always held itself to when it comes to caring for our animals. Slaughter plants must also be formally approved by AWA. Our commitment to take good care of our animals goes all the way back to our founder and great grandfather, John Baptiste Fiscalini. It contains a lot of organic matter and cannot, therefore, simply be directed to the waste water system; instead, it must first be subjected to different treatments. Website only available to a limited extent. Every farm is audited. Cattle farming is appalling for the climate. This quantity includes both the water consumption by the cow (a cow drinks around 50 litres per day; more during hot, dry weather), cleaning the milking parlour and its equipment and, where necessary, irrigating the plants that they eat. Ever. As such, Swiss cheesemakers have taken a pledge to not use any additives, preservatives, colourings or flavour enhancers. We like to go there for walks; our cows call it home. If you’ve read our article on regenerative farming, you’ll know there’s a big difference between small and large dairy farms. Actually, cheese is pretty much just as bad as meat on all counts. Responsible production is closely linked with the efficient use of resources – from water to energy to the soil itself. The three big ones are; bulls being slaughtered from birth, calves being separated from mothers and terrible living conditions. Animal Welfare. By opting for cheeses from Switzerland, consumers are supporting the environmentally friendly production of cheese in family businesses, which should allow for the producers to be paid fairly. There’s a lot of research being done into when is best to remove calves from their mothers. The thinking in general was, bigger equals better, with no thought of the animals or the land in general. The practice of separating calves from mothers at birth was one born out of economic need. As Nick, from Park Farm said “happy cows make happy cheese”. For a long time, Dairy farming and farming in general had a lot to answer for in animal welfare standards across the industries as a whole. June 1, 2019. One big criticism of the industry is that when male calves are birthed, they taken immediately to slaughter because there simply isn’t a need for them on dairy farms, and this practice is unnecessary cruel and wasteful. In some cases, heat recovery plants have been installed, which both ensure warm water provision and serve as heating for offices and/or residential buildings. Happy cows makes for happy cheese!” he also described that the temperature at which the mothers are kept can increase the chances of a female calf. Handling this wastewater is a real challenge for creameries. … Without criticism nothing would ever change or get better. This requirement makes it possible to reduce transportation and thus CO2 emissions. In small dairy, it has been understood for a long time that a happy animal produces better products and therefore can help create a demand on the higher end of the industry. The modern-day Meatless Monday movement gained popularity back in 2003 as a way to get families and individuals to … At these farms, animals often get little to no outdoors time. How Old Europe Cheese Promotes Animal Welfare. Grazing is the natural way to feed cows. Recycling waste is a big deal for us. Animal Welfare Approved 2012 American Cheese Society Conference Raleigh, North Carolina Presenters: Andrew Gunther, Program Director, Animal Welfare Approved Kathryn Spann, Owner and Cheesemaker, Prodigal Farm Nathan Arnold, Cheesemaker, Sequatchie Cove Farm.