Cows are people too
Humane animal treatment
We get lots of questions from our yogurt lovers about the welfare of the cows that make milk for our yogurt, so we know humane animal treatment is important to you. It’s important to us too.
All the milk we use to make our products comes from organic dairy farms that adhere to or exceed livestock living condition standards set forth by the USDA. These standards require organic dairy farmers to maintain livestock living conditions that accommodate the health and natural behavior of the animal, including:
- Access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air, and direct sunlight suitable to the species, its stage of production, the climate, and the environment;
- Access to pasture, for ruminants;
- Appropriate, clean, dry bedding;
- Shelter designed to allow for:
- Natural maintenance, comfort behaviors, and opportunity to exercise;
- Temperature level, ventilation, and air circulations suitable to the species;
- Reduction of potential for livestock injury.
Temporary confinement of an animal is allowed in the event of inclement weather, risks to soil or water quality, or when the health and well-being of the animal could be in jeopardy.
In addition to the U.S. National Organic Standards, the organic dairy cooperative that supplies milk for our yogurt and smoothies, Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative, has its own stringent humane animal standards. If you have questions about these additional standards, you can contact the cooperative at 1-888-444-MILK.
