Valio to pay bonus for responsible dairy production
03 Jan 2018 --- From the start of this year, Finnish dairy Valio has promised to pay one cent extra per liter to entrepreneurs who have proven themselves committed to responsible dairy production. Valio has implemented the most extensive renewal of quality and production practices in the company’s history. The aim of this development work is to promote animal well-being and a better quality of life for the animals.
The “responsibility bonus” will be paid to entrepreneurs who commit to various measures to promote animal well-being, such as planned healthcare for the animals. The responsibility bonus is one cent per liter of milk. At present, about 80 percent of Valio dairy farms are covered by the reforms, and the goal is to have all farms involved by 2020.
“We’re delighted to see that dairy farmers throughout Finland are so committed to these changes. About 4,600 of the 5,800 dairy farms in the Valio group are already following the new guidelines. We will continue to provide local training, and expect a lot more farms to join the program this year,” says Juha Nousiainen, director of farm services at Valio.
“Animal welfare is increasingly important to consumers. Responsible production is absolutely essential for ensuring ethical milk production, and for ensuring that dairy products remain attractive to consumers,” says Nousiainen.
Systematic & preventive healthcare: essential to animal welfare
Promoting a better life for animals means, among other things, that all the cattle on dairy farms are covered by planned healthcare, and that all the animals are included in the centralized healthcare register for Finnish cattle herds (Naseva). This ensures that a veterinarian visits the farm at least once a year to assess many matters related to the well-being and health of the cows. The data are comparable between different farms. To receive the responsibility bonus, each dairy farm must also implement regular monitoring of the condition of the hooves. They must also ensure that pain relief and sedatives are given to calves as part of dehorning and that the procedure is carried out under the supervision of a vet. This has long been standard practice on most farms.
According to the production guidelines, every new barn must be a free-stall barn, meaning that it is built in such a way that the cows are freely able to spend time outdoors or to graze. At present, a total of about 55 percent of the cows on Valio farms live in such cowsheds. As in previous years, Valio also requires that the animal feed is free of soy and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
“Finnish cows are already the healthiest in the European Union, which is why we use antibiotics very little compared to other EU countries. We support and encourage the dairy farmers to focus more than ever on animal welfare,” says Vesa Kaunisto, chairman of the board at Valio. Kaunisto has his own dairy farm of 36 cows in the Ostrobothnian municipality of Veteli, in the west of Finland.
The welfare of animals on Valio farms is good by international standards, and about 96 percent of the milk received by Valio is in the highest quality category. In Finland, antibiotics are only administered when prescribed by a vet in response to a health problem – they are never prescribed or given preventively. As a result, the use of antibiotics in Finland is markedly less than in Central Europe, for example.
Animal welfare in milk production is important not only as a question of ethics but also in economic terms. Cattle that are healthy and contented also have a higher milk yield. Increased milk yield is partly explained by the quality of the feed and by progress in breeding. But investing in animal welfare is extremely important in this respect as well.
Valio is a leading Finnish food company offering pure natural dairy ingredients for the food and nutrition industry. We serve customers globally with solutions to all age groups from babies to elderly people. Our solutions, expertise and ingredients can be used in various applications. With over 110 years of experience and Nobel Prize winning innovation, we help you meet the market demand of natural food, as well the business objectives of the modern food industry.
Valio has net sales of EUR 1.78 billion and is Finland’s biggest food exporter. Valio products are found in some 60 countries and account for 25 % of Finland’s total food exports. The company holds 350 patents in 50 countries. Valio seeks strong growth in international markets and has subsidiaries in Russia, Sweden, the Baltics, USA and China.
We serve customers globally with solutions to all age groups from babies to elderly people. Our solutions, expertise and ingredients can be used in various applications. With over 110 years of experience and Nobel prize winning innovation, we help you meet the market demand of natural and sustainable food, as well the business objectives of the modern food industry.
Valio is offering high-quality dairy ingredients like milk and base powders, butter and cheese for the global food industry. We are world's leading expert in lactose free business. The secret behind our products is fresh Finnish milk, pure and clean from our own dairy farmers. The use of genetically modified GMO (Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and No 1830/2003) feed is not permitted in Valio. Our commitment to quality carries through our entire quality chain, and we conform to international standards in all our operations.
24 Apr 2024 --- Amid the current challenging economic climate, IFF has unveiled a report that delves into the evolving consumer trends in the dairy and alt-dairy space....Read More
23 Apr 2024 --- The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the ongoing spread of avian influenza poses a “significant public health concern” and...Read More
18 Apr 2024 --- Emmi Group’s Brazilian subsidiary, Laticínios Porto Alegre, will acquire a majority stake in dairy product producer Verde Campo from...Read More
17 Apr 2024 --- Danish-Swedish dairy multinational Arla Foods Ingredients debuts a high-protein beverage called Progamer. The functional drink is geared toward...Read More
10 Apr 2024 --- As consumers become more concerned about the impact of their food choices on biodiversity, dairy ingredient formulators are pushing the envelope to adopt...Read More