A message from NFU dairy board chairman on #happycows

NFU national dairy board chairman Michael Oakes is urging dairy farmers to get involved on World Milk Day and let everyone know how good welfare standards are in the UK.

He says animal welfare in the dairy industry is a top priority. 
“If you look after the cows then they’ll look after you. Even in this market when vast majority of us are struggling, it’s really important we maintain animal welfare standards because ultimately it’s what our industry is based on in the UK - high welfare dairy production. It doesn’t matter what system you have, it’s down to good management and high welfare standards – whether that’s extensive or intensive - it can apply to both."

And he’s hoping dairy farmers across the country will get involved with #happycows.
“Hopefully farmers will be taking pictures of themselves and their cows and putting them on Twitter and getting them trending using #happycows. We do have a great product – we as farmers know how much work goes in to producing a litre of milk. It is something we’re proud of and it is something that’s really nutritious and really beneficial to the consumer. So we need to get behind this and shout about it even when things are as tough as they are."

What would be his one message to the dairy sector on World Milk Day? 
“Be proud of what we do. Knowing how tough it is, let’s shout about how good standards are in the UK and how good our product is. Use this opportunity on World Milk Day to raise the profile of what we do and how well we do it.”