Aurora Fare Well on Welfare
COLORADO, US - Aurora Organic Dairy has announced that it has received Animal Welfare Review Certification for each of its five organic dairy farms, located in Colorado and Texas, from Validus Services, LLC.
2 December 2008
2 minute read
According to Aurora, a leading US provider of organic milk and butter, The Validus Animal Welfare Review program includes a comprehensive assessment of the farm's animal care practices, along with recommendations for improvements.
"Animal welfare is becoming an increasingly important factor when consumers choose which products to purchase," said Dr. Sandy Stokes-Goff, Validus Program Manager. "Consumers expect the products they buy to be sourced from animals that were treated with compassion, and that are allowed to exhibit their natural behaviors. Validus has a comprehensive audit program that ensures producers are committed to animal welfare. Aurora Organic's high audit results at all of its farms demonstrate they have a very strong commitment to the care and welfare of their organic dairy cows."
As part of the Validus Animal Welfare Review Certification process, independent auditors from Validus visited each of Aurora's organic dairy farms for a comprehensive inspection of animal welfare practices and herd health, says Aurora Organic Dairy. The herd health criteria inspected and scored by Validus auditors included body condition, locomotion, parlor behavior, slips and falls, and herd health facilities, processes and oversight.
Certification is awarded to farms that demonstrate compliance with the animal welfare criteria and standards established for their operation, including humane animal handling and management, herd health procedures and care, food and water quality standards, housing that promotes animal comfort and cleanliness, on-farm security procedures, and proper management of special-needs animals. Aurora Organic received the highest possible audit rating of "excellent" at all of its five organic dairy farms.
"Animal welfare is a top priority for Aurora Organic Dairy, and we are pleased to have earned Validus Animal Welfare Review certification," said Mark Retzloff, Chairman of Aurora Organic Dairy. "Our cows have helped expand the market for organic dairy by making high-quality organic milk and butter more affordable and available for American families. They deserve, and receive, a quality of care on our farms that's second to none in organic dairy."
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