Defra's new animal welfare strategy has outlined a broad range of reforms, with specific actions for the dairy sector covering the housing of calves, breeding and how animals should be transported.
Responding to the publication’s strategy, NFU Dairy Board Chair Paul Tompkins said: “British dairy farmers are proud to produce milk and dairy products to some of the highest animal health and welfare standards in the world.
“We are pleased to see government recognises the value of the dairy sector and its contribution to the UK economy, but any strategy for improvement must build on this foundation and be based on clear scientific evidence that will benefit animal welfare, farm productivity and business resilience. It is also vital that the requirements our own dairy farmers must adhere to are not undermined by imports of products that have been produced to standards that are illegal here.
What has Defra announced?
Individual housing of calves
Defra has stated its ambition to remove the use of ‘intensive confinement systems’. The strategy does acknowledge that, depending on the milk contract and assurance scheme, some dairy farmers are required to house calves in groups or pairs under eight weeks of age. While group housing can benefit social development as calves grow stronger, early grouping may increase the risk of disease transmission and abnormal behaviours. Pair housing may offer an intermediate solution, but only when calves are of similar age and size.
Individual housing provides a controlled environment that supports disease prevention, reduces abnormal behaviours such as cross-suckling, and enables close monitoring during the critical colostrum period.
“We are pleased to see government recognises the value of the dairy sector and its contribution to the UK economy, but any strategy for improvement must build on this foundation and be based on clear scientific evidence.”
NFU Dairy Board Chair Paul Tompkins
The NFU believes there should be flexibility to make these decisions on a case-by-case basis as to whether calves should be housed individually, in pairs, or in small groups, depending on age, health, facilities, and management systems. This ensures welfare needs are met while reflecting on-farm realities.
A recent study on individual vs paired housing: Calf Management: Individual or Paired Housing Affects Dairy Calf Health and Welfare, found that the benefits of paired calves encourage more exploratory behaviour, less fear and a better ability to adapt to a new environment with no negative effect on daily liveweight gain. However, there were concerns found in this study with pairs, where one calf will thrive in both performance and welfare to the detriment of the other calf when paired from birth. More research is required to determine if paired housing can be used for allowing calves within a pair to have more uniform growth and a positive welfare experience.
Government policy should allow flexibility and appropriate exceptions. Any measures promoting early grouping that require significant structural changes must be properly funded, include adequate transition periods, and remain proportionate to animal welfare needs.
Breeding strategies to improve welfare of high-yielding dairy cows
The strategy notes that some animal welfare NGOs have raised concerns about the health and welfare of high-producing dairy cows. While the NFU does not share these concerns, we fully support the shared goal of government, NGOs and dairy farmers to use genetics to breed healthy, high-welfare, productive cows with a reduced environmental footprint.
For many years, AHDB has led the way in providing farmers with the tools, data and knowledge to achieve genetic progress on farm and the NFU will continue to work alongside them to drive ongoing improvement.
The effect of breeding decisions are cumulative; they build over generations and have a key role to play in animal welfare and farm profitability. Dairy cows are now producing more milk from less, but this is done in balance with health, fertility and longevity with animal welfare underpinning the decisions. The NFU encourages the government to ensure continued collaboration and seek input from our dairy members who can offer valuable insights into the intricacies of breeding healthy, high-welfare animals that form a vital part of the UK food system.
Welfare in transport
The strategy states that animals should only be transported if it is necessary, and transport should be by the most welfare-considerate route. Journey durations should be minimised where possible to reduce the risk of welfare complications arising during transport.
Animal welfare remains the top priority for dairy farmers, ensuring that animals are accurately assessed for their fitness to travel, whether that be a journey to an abattoir or another holding. The NFU will continue to collaborate with the government on this to ensure that the on-farm practicalities and cost burdens are fully taken into consideration and are proportionate to the welfare risk.
Proposals to ban trail hunting
Defra has announced in its strategy that it will be consulting in 2026 on how to deliver a ban on trail hunting.
Hunt kennels provide a vital service for livestock and dairy farmers, collecting fallen livestock and carrying out emergency slaughter on farm of sick or injured animals. The NFU is concerned that farmers will lose this essential service which not only helps to ensure animal welfare but also that animal by-products are collected and disposed of without delay, safeguarding our environment.
