Wednesday, 13 July 2022 07:55

Go back to the drawing board

Written by  Pam Tipa
DairyNZ claims NAWA seems to have lost sight of the overall purpose of the dairy welfare code. DairyNZ claims NAWA seems to have lost sight of the overall purpose of the dairy welfare code.

DairyNZ wants the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) to go back to the drawing board on many areas in its proposed Code of Welfare.

It then wants NAWAC to go back out to the industry including farmers for another round of consultation. It supports the code update for clarity, to incorporate recent animal welfare science and lift the bar in areas of the code where common practice surpasses previous standards.

But it does not support changes to the code that increase complexity and inhibit its value as a useful tool, the industry body says in its submission to the code.

DairyNZ wants NAWAC to review all of the proposed changes to minimum standards, example indicators and recommended best practice to align with the criteria in its own guidelines and those of MPI.

It says the volume of change is difficult to review and analyse to provide valuable feedback on, particularly as the discussion document only covers a small proportion of the changes.

"We are concerned that this consultation will not be able to provide for adequate feedback from affected parties (such as farmers) due to the complicated nature of what is being proposed," it submits. "DairyNZ has made considerable effort to collect farmer feedback through multiple methods to support our submission, including a farmer survey, farmer group meetings throughout the country and a simple submission template for farmers.

"However, due the volume of changes, we were only able to focus these efforts on a smaller set of priority issues.

"NAWAC seems to have lost sight of the overall purpose of the code which is to provide detail on the minimum standards that need to be met and to promote recommended best practice. It does not need to be a complete 'how to' manual.

"Industry stakeholders are constantly working on voluntary improvements to animal welfare, for example, the latest intensive winter grazing inspections from previous years. DairyNZ suggest a further round of consultation should be carried out to ensure that all impacted parties have the opportunity to understand the implications of these changes."

DairyNZ says it has concerns regarding cross over and duplication and at times inconsistency of how the code has been written. A few examples where the way the code is drafted does not support farmer understanding are:

  • Body Condition Score minimum standard 6 (b) does not align with Body Condition Score example indicator under pretransport selection.
  • Duplication across sections: Calf feeding detail sits as an example indicator under the feed minimum standard. Heifers being familiarised with milking facilities is mentioned under animal handling and milking (where it is mentioned twice).
  • Duplication within sections: Many of the example indicator are rewording of what is written in the minimum standard.

More like this

DairyNZ board sets new levy rate

DairyNZ has set a new levy rate of 4.5c/kgMS from 1 June 2025 and aims to keep the levy at no more than this rate for a minimum of three years.

Featured

Farmers urged not to be complacent about TB

New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.

Editorial: Making wool great again

OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.

National

Lame stories from a country vet

Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s…

Machinery & Products

Amazone extends hoe range

With many European manufacturers releasing mechanical weeding systems to counter the backlash around the use and possible banning of agrochemicals,…

Gong for NH dealers

New Holland dealers from around Australia and New Zealand came together last month for the Dealer of the Year Awards,…

A true Kiwi ingenuity

The King Cobra raingun continues to have a huge following in the New Zealand market and is also exported to…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Greenpeace a charity?

OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.

Synlait's back

OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter