Wednesday, 8 May 2013

For immediate release

DairyNZ welcomes strategy for animal welfare

Industry body DairyNZ is welcoming the New Zealand Animal Welfare Strategy released by the Minister of Primary Industries, Nathan Guy.

DairyNZ’s Strategy and Investment Leader for Sustainability Dr Rick Pridmore, says New Zealand’s dairy farmers take animal welfare matters seriously and it is useful to have an overarching strategic framework for guiding how the country approaches the care of animals.

“Animal welfare is one of the dairy industry’s 10 objectives in the newly refreshed Strategy for Sustainable Dairy Farming. We’re committed to farming to high standards of animal health, welfare and well-being. As the Minister points out, New Zealand has a world-leading reputation for animal welfare and we need to recognise and protect that as it is a vital part of continuing our success as an export industry,” he says.

Dr Pridmore says DairyNZ is comfortable with much of the proposed National Animal Welfare Strategy, at its high level of design.

The existing Codes of Welfare also enjoy a strong degree of support and understanding within the industry, he says.

“We support a move toward greater enforcement of the standards in the Codes of Welfare for the treatment of animals as they are generally acknowledged and accepted. So we will work with the Ministry for Primary Industries taking the route of providing greater regulatory and legislative backing to these standards.

“The body that guides the development of these standards is called the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and is set up to provide independent advice to the Minister for Primary Industries. Its members are vets, various animal ethical experts and scientists with expertise, knowledge and experience,” he says.

The committee plays a key role in overseeing animal welfare rules and regulations in New Zealand in an independent and professional manner.

“It’s vital that farmers are involved in the development of animal welfare standards to ensure they are practical and able to be readily implemented on the farm.”

-ENDS-

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