21 June 2012

3 minute read

Actress Joanna Lumley is supporting the ‘Supporting Better Dairy’ campaign.

Actress Joanna Lumley is supporting the launch of this partnership which sees NGOs and companies working together with the public to influence European Union (EU) policy to make European cows happy cows.

Specific EU regulations already safeguard other farm animals, but dairy cows have no such protection, meaning that welfare standards vary greatly across the EU, with some suffering from poor health, inadequate housing and lack of access to pasture.

The campaign will run the first-ever animal welfare European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), allowing EU citizens to propose new legislation for improving standards for Europe’s 23 million dairy cows.

Supporting Better Dairy hopes to raise the bar by introducing basic standard EU-wide legislation through the ECI, at a time when there is more consumer interest in dairy cow welfare than ever before.

An exclusive EU-wide survey for Supporting Better Dairy revealed that 89 per cent of consumers feel that cows need legislation to protect them and 81 per cent said they would sign a petition to enforce this.

Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s said: “The reality is that, across the European Union, welfare standards for cows vary greatly.

“We love cows and believe that only happy cows make great ice-cream but they are one of the only farm animals in Europe that don’t have specific regulations to protect them.

“It’s essential to create a level playing field across Europe that secures the health of our herds and the long-term sustainability of our industry.”

Compassion in World Farming patron Joanna Lumley added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for people to speak up for our hard-working dairy cows and send a direct message to Brussels that they need our protection.

“It’s our chance to say we don’t want to see our cows forced indoors, unable to graze in the summer fields, and to ask the EU to give them the protection they deserve.

“Other farm animals have specific laws, designed to guarantee a minimum welfare standard for them. Dairy cows don’t.

“If you believe they should, please sign the Citizens’ Initiative and help make that happen.”

Suzi Morris, UK Director of the World Society for the Protection of Animals explained: “We cannot assume that the needs of dairy cows are being put first, so the EU must take the lead and ensure that cows do not suffer.

“We need tougher laws to prevent vast numbers of European cows from suffering painful mastitis, debilitating lameness, infertility and drastically reduced lifespans – all tragic consequences of keeping cows in poor conditions.”

An ECI needs to be backed by at least one million EU citizens, coming from at least seven of the EU’s 27 member states.

For further information on Supporting Better Dairy, to watch a video message from Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield and to pledge your support please visit the campaign website now at www.happycows.eu/.

TheCattleSite News Desk