June 15, 2005

Dutch dairy industry imposes stricter feed standards

A Netherlands-based dairy co-operative would require members in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany to use a higher quality of feed for their cattle than is currently required.

The plan is to control raw milk quality from farmers through better quality feed and avoid contaminated animal feeds. The co-operative also hopes the new feed standards will anticipate proposed new EU legislation for the dairy industry and standardise quality of feed purchases across the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Dairy farmers in these three countries currently operate under separate national quality assurance schemes.

Member farmers are expected to buy cattle feed only from companies that comply with higher quality standards than are presently required, the co-operative said.

Besides feed quality, other standards under the new system would cover animal care, maintenance of milking machines as well milk cooling tanks and water.