Humane animal treatment
Organic farmers must adhere to livestock living-condition standards defined by the USDA. We think these standards make organic dairy farms, as compared to the average nonorganic dairy farm, well, just nicer places for cows to live. Here’s a summary of the organic livestock living-condition standards:
Organic farmers must maintain 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;
- cows and other ruminants must graze pasture during the grazing season—which must be at least 120 days per year—and must get at least 30 percent dry matter intake from grazing pasture;
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.
With CROPP, we go a step beyond
In addition to the U.S. National Organic Standards, the organic dairy cooperative that supplies milk for our products—Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative—has its own stringent humane animal care standards. Learn more.
