07/09/08 Dairy industry distributing animal handling guidelines

Washington Ag July 9, 2008 The National Milk Producers Federation - along with Dairy Management Inc. and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners - has unveiled an educational poster that's heading to the mailboxes of dairy producers across the nation. National Milk Producers Federation spokesperson Chris Galen says the poster will help dairy producers make the right decisions when handling, transporting or culling their animals. He says dairy farmers already recognize - and carry out - their responsibility to provide appropriate care but notes it's always good to have a reminder of the best practices to follow. Galen: "We all know that there has been a lot of focus in the media lately, and by regulators, about how cattle and livestock are treated, due to the undercover Humane Society videos and just concerns overall about the treatment of farm animals. I think this document will just be evidence of the good ways to go about handling animals particularly as they leave the farm. There is a life cycle to dairy cattle. Decisions have to be made on a regular basis about culling animals and transporting them and this sheet is designed specifically to help create some best practices on farms regarding the regarding the culling and transporting of dairy cattle." The poster is being distributed this month through dairy cooperatives to their members. I'm Bob Hoff.