The company says this strengthens its commitment to animal welfare and ensures a level of consistency across its dairy farms.
Heather Jenkins, Waitrose director of agriculture and meat, fish and dairy buying said, “We’ve always required our farmers to graze their dairy herds outside but this move puts in place a minimum benchmark of at least 100 days a year. We’re proud of our commitment and proud of our dairy farmers for the support they have given us with this move to a formal standard.
“Getting dairy cows outside and on grass pasture whenever possible not only produces great-quality milk but is a key aspect of good animal welfare, something we believe is of the utmost importance.”
Tier One company for animal welfare
Philip Lymbery, chief executive of animal welfare organization Compassion in World Farming, said, “As the only major retailer who ensures that all their cows are allowed seasonal grazing, I have nothing but praise for Waitrose on their milk commitment.
“I think that most consumers presume that all dairy cows are allowed out on pasture. Sadly, this simply isn’t the case. In terms of dairy cow welfare, Waitrose delivers what its customers expect and what the cows need to live a happier, healthier life.”
Brian Barnett, chair of the Waitrose Dairy Farmers Group, added, “As farmers supplying milk to Waitrose we have always been required to graze their dairy cattle, so having pasture land and suitable buildings to make this possible is embedded in our on-farm planning.”
Waitrose conventional (non-organic) milk is produced from cows bred specifically for milk production. The milk is produced exclusively for Waitrose by a pool of 50 UK dairy farms in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Dorset, Somerset and Devon.
Waitrose was recently confirmed as a Tier One leader in the global Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare for the second year running. The supermarket also won Compassion in World Farming’s Good Dairy Award in 2011 and the CiWF Retailer of the Year award for the sixth time in 2015.