Sainsbury's Launches Unique Animal Welfare Standard for UK Dairy Farmers as Part of a £40 Million Investment

The new welfare standard will dramatically improve the lives of 55,000 UK cows that produce 470 million litres of fresh milk and 90 million litres of milk for cheese per year.

28 May 2010 --- Sainsbury's has announced that it will be the first major retailer to launch an industry leading animal welfare standard for dairy farmers which will improve the lives of 55,000 cows in the UK. The supermarket is one of Britain's biggest milk retailers - accounting for 18% of all sales.

The retailer has spent three years developing the standard with its 334 dairy farmers, who form the Sainsbury's Dairy Development Group (SDDG). The standard is industry leading and unique because it measures the overall health and welfare of each dairy cow, which is called an ‘outcome approach'.

The new welfare standard will dramatically improve the lives of 55,000 UK cows that produce 470 million litres of fresh milk and 90 million litres of milk for cheese per year.

SDDG farmers currently receive 2.1 pence per litre premium for their milk above the market price, which equates to an average of £26,000 per farmer, per year. The premium rewards farmers for good agricultural practice and enables them to reinvest in their businesses.

Since 2006, Sainsbury's has invested over £15 million in the SDDG and will invest a further £40 million over the next 3 years. Sainsbury's has facilitated £1.66 million improvement in animal health profitability across the SDDG, which equates to over £5,000 per farmer in the last year alone.

Animal welfare standards in the dairy industry have previously focussed on the farm environment - however the new ‘outcome approach' SDDG animal welfare standard looks at the individual health and welfare of each cow, highlighting nine key welfare areas1, such as lameness, nutrition and fertility. 

Improving lameness is a key objective, the industry average is in excess of 40%, and the retailer aims to achieve 5% by 2012. Sainsbury's is the only retailer to have a unique animal welfare database containing details of every cow in its group, this forms the basis for measuring marked animal welfare improvements.

John Avizenius, deputy head of the RSPCA farm animal science department said: "This is a very innovative and encouraging initiative, and represents a positive step forward towards addressing important areas of dairy cattle welfare.  We are pleased to see retailers such as Sainsbury's being so committed to achieving progress in animal welfare." 

William Goodwin, Sainsbury's farmer said: "The SDDG offers an overall package which no other retailer is currently offering.  I am genuinely proud to be part of this unique group - no supermarket has done more to listen to the concerns of farmers, drive business efficiencies or reward financially.

"I have recently been able to invest in housing, slurry facilities and rubber matting as a direct result of the extra income being part of the SDDG."

Annie Graham, Sainsbury's head of agriculture said; "Our farmers have helped us come up with a challenging but achievable herd health programme. The targets and aspirations of the ‘outcomes approach' standard will ensure better animal welfare, improved production and greater business efficiency. This is delivered through local veterinary visits, milk recording and practical training courses."

Mansel Raymond, NFU dairy board chairman said; "By working with its dairy farmers to achieve the highest standards of cow welfare, Sainsbury's is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the SDDG. Through its support for investments and initiatives on farm Sainsbury's is sharing the responsibility and cost of further welfare improvements with its dairy farmers and I look forward to seeing the results."

James Husband, consultant vet said; "The ethos of the scheme is to encourage positive changes in animal management. We work with the farmers and encourage changes appropriate to the individual farm's strengths and weaknesses. The welfare targets in the standard are based on what is already being achieved on the best SDDG farms and should be achievable on all farms with appropriate help. We believe that farm profitability and animal welfare should go hand in hand".

In an industry-first, Sainsbury's extended the scheme in September 2009, to 98 dairy farmers in Devon and Cornwall who produce milk used in the production of its cheese. The Sainsbury's Cheese Development Group (SCDG) has further strengthened the supermarket's links with dairy farmers and cheese producers, spreading best practice and maximising efficiencies.

Further to this and to support Sainsbury's growth plans, the SDDG is expanding; 25 new dairy farmers join the scheme in September 2010.  The new farmers take advantage of all the same free benefits such as vet bills, milk recording, carbon audits, IT equipment & training courses.

SDDG is delivering against its original objectives to offer greater profits to its members. ‘Herd Health & Husbandry' is one of four of the SDDG initiatives identified by farmers in 2007 when the group launched.  It enables SDDG members to benefit from more efficient businesses, through better cow health and improved husbandry, with milk recording playing a key role in the health plan for each herd.