Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative?
A: The National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative is a producer-led effort to build consumer trust and confidence in the dairy industry’s commitment to animal well-being. We want to protect our freedom to operate by demonstrating that we recognize our ethical obligation to care for our animals and that we have programs in place to meet that obligation. We want to create an umbrella of well-being principles and guidelines that will provide uniform validation of our commitment regardless of which dairy well-being program a producer uses.

Q: How will this work?
A: The National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative Coalition has developed the broad principles and guidelines that any dairy well-being program should include to meet our ethical obligation to provide for the well-being of our animals. This is NOT another on-farm animal well-being program. One of the great strengths of the dairy industry is our robust regional co-ops, associations and independent companies. Many of these organizations have already established, or are in the process of establishing, well-being programs. We want to capitalize on the strength of our regional organizations and still provide assurance to our national stakeholders that the entire industry is meeting our obligation to provide appropriate care for our animals by having a uniform national umbrella of well-being principles and guidelines.

The draft Principles and Guidelines have been under review by industry stakeholders, co-ops and producer groups for a nine-month review period that ended July 1, 2008. Comments are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Principles and Guidelines Committee for evaluation. The Principles and Guidelines Committee will then propose a final Principles and Guidelines document to be approved by the entire National Dairy Animal Well-Being Coalition. The Coalition will then launch the finalized Principles and Guidelines at the 2008 World Dairy Expo.

These Principles and Guidelines can provide validation that the various programs that exist meet our obligation to provide appropriate care. This would be done by comparing the elements of individual programs against the Principles and Guidelines.

Q: Who is on the Coalition doing this work?
A: The Coalition is a broad based group of volunteers from across the country representing every facet of the dairy industry. It includes producers, processors, co-ops, allied industry, academics, associations and others. More than 60 people have been involved in the work of the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative since late 2005. The Coalition is not part of any specific association or organization, but a group that reflects the diversity and strength of the U.S. dairy industry.

In addition to individual dairy producers, other industry leaders participating in the Coalition, or contributing in some way, include: Alto Dairy, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Farm Bureau Federation, Animart, American Foods Group, Cornell University, Dairy Farmers of America, Dairy Management Inc., Elanco Animal Health, Foremost Farms USA, Grande Cheese Company, International Dairy Foods Association, Land O’ Lakes, Milk and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Center Inc., Morgan&Myers, National Milk Producers Federation, Northeast Dairy Producers Association, Organic Valley, Pfizer Animal Health, Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO), Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Rabobank, Rosenholm Wolfe Dairy LLP, Safeway Inc., Smithfield Beef Group, United Dairymen of Arizona, University of Arizona, University of California-Davis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Validus, Washington Dairy Products Commission, Washington State Dairy Federation, WestfaliaSurge, Inc., Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Wisconsin Pork Producers Association.

Q: Why is this important?
A: Animal well-being is increasingly important to our customers and other dairy industry stakeholders who grant us the social license we need to operate. Today, dairy animal well-being is not a top of mind consumer concern. We want to maintain the level of consumer trust and confidence in dairy producers.

The Initiative gives you a chance to control your destiny and protect your freedom to operate by demonstrating that the dairy industry is committed to doing the right thing when it comes to animal well-being. It also provides you the opportunity to protect your markets and preserve market access by proving your commitment to animal well-being to customers and other stakeholders by participating in an animal well-being program that incorporates the national well-being principles and guidelines.

Q: How do I get involved?
A: There are two ways to get involved today. First, be supportive of the work being done by the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative. Consider signing the endorsement form that formally indicates your support. You can also help us promote the dairy industry’s long standing commitment to animal care by talking about the issue to fellow producers, and others you know in the industry. Second, take part in an on-farm animal well-being program that incorporates the well-being principles and guidelines being developed by the Coalition. Your co-op, association or other market channel partner may already have a program in place. If not, encourage them to develop one or consider one that is available on the open market.

Q: Why should I participate?
A: We need all producers to demonstrate the dairy industry’s commitment to animal well-being. Today, dairy animal well-being is not a top of mind issue for consumers. We want to provide our customers, policy makers and other stakeholders who grant us the social license to operate, the assurance that we are meeting our ethical obligation to care for our animals. If we work together we can protect our freedom to operate by successfully managing this issue.

Q: Isn’t this just giving into the activists?
A: No. The creation of the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative demonstrates the dairy industry’s awareness of the need to communicate our commitment to animal well-being to our customers and consumers. Dairy producers have a long tradition of providing good care for their animals. We want to control our own destiny by creating a program that proves our commitment and allows us to honestly and accurately portray what happens on the farm.

Q: Is this a government program? Are they going to audit my operation?
A: This is not a government program. The National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative was created by a group of concerned industry stakeholders who know producers are committed to doing what’s right and want to help the industry successfully manage this challenging issue. There will not be government audits of your on-farm animal well-being practices. The National Dairy Animal Well-Being Principles and Guidelines do include third party oversight to assure credibility. Individual well-being programs may incorporate different methods of third party oversight that are consistent with the principles and guidelines.

Q: How is the Initiative funded?
A: To date much of the work of the Initiative has been done by volunteers. The people who have attended the Coalition meetings have all done so at their own cost. The Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin provided initial funding to get the Initiative off the ground. Other industry stakeholders are providing funding to help launch the Initiative publicly.

Q: What does this do to my co-op’s or processor’s existing animal well-being program?
A: We believe that having uniform national dairy animal well-being principles and guidelines will help validate the strength of individual on-farm animal well-being programs. Your co-op’s or processor’s program should be enhanced by the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative.

Q: What if my co-op doesn’t participate in the Initiative?
A: If your co-op or milk marketer does not participate in a welfare program that is part of the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative, you may do so on your own. There are independent well-being programs offered by companies across the country. Your state or national dairy organization may be able to recommend one doing business in your area.

To endorse the program on your own, please refer to the page titled “Endorsers” on the National Dairy Animal Well-Being website at www.dairywellbeing.org. Endorsement forms may be obtained by accessing the links at the bottom of the page in the box “Support the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative!” Producers and industry organizations are encouraged to complete the endorsement form and return it using the instructions at the bottom of the form.

Q: Are veal calves included in this Initiative?
A: The principles and guidelines cover all animals on the dairy. Once a calf leaves the dairy, it would no longer be covered by the principles and guidelines. This is true regardless of where the calf is going.

Q: What will it cost for producers to participate?
A: There is no cost to producers for the development of the principles and guidelines. It is up to each producer and their co-op or marketing partner to determine the appropriate animal well-being program for their situation. The cost and allocation of cost is a decision made by the marketing partner and the producer. The National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative has no role in that relationship.

Q: What is the timeline to review the principles and guidelines document?
A: The draft Principles and Guidelines were released at the 2007 World Dairy Expo and have been under review by the industry for a nine-month period which ended on July 1, 2008. Comments provided by industry stakeholders are being compiled and all comments will be evaluated by the NDAWI Principles and Guidelines Committee. This Committee will then propose a final Principles and Guidelines document for approval by the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Coalition. This process will be completed in time for the 2008 World Dairy Expo.

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