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Animal welfare is a key part of Organic farming
There are several areas of animal welfare that benefit from Organic farming
MilkingOrganic cows in general are milked twice a day and average milk yields will tend to be lower than in other farming systems - possibly meaning less stress for the animals
Feed The animals receive naturally grown feed, which has not been grown using pesticides - a positive environmental impact
HomeIt is a common misunderstanding that organic cows spend their whole life in the fields. This is not true, as there are times of year when the animals need to be undercover and protected from the elements. However, while undercover they have access to a dry and comfortable lying area and have space to move around freely in yards if they want to, let back into the fields only when it is best for them
IllnessLet's be honest, organic cattle do get ill like any other animal. But the way that they are treated is what sets them apart from non-organic animals. If an animal falls ill then organic farmers are encouraged to use natural medicines or remedies and minimize the use of antibiotics unless absolutely necessary to avoid suffering. Welfare is our main consideration
Routine use of "preventative" medicines is not permitted
Should an animal require antibiotics, then as with all dairy cattle, its milk cannot be sold during the treatment period thereby allowing any medicinal residues to totally clear their system |
