Sustainability from Field to Milk Carton
Sustainability is on everyone's minds these days. It is an agenda that is here to stay. Danish cattle farming is an integral part of the food value chain and is expected to contribute to sustainability and climate goals. We must ensure the production of good and healthy food from meat and milk, while also being mindful of the impact of agriculture on the environment, animal welfare, and the climate. However, sustainable agriculture encompasses more than just discussing animal welfare and fallow agricultural land.
Taking a Helicopter Perspective on Sustainability
Sustainability means consuming the Earth's resources in a way that ensures there are enough resources for everyone, indefinitely. It may seem abstract, but in a world where abundance is the norm for some while others lack the same level of development and economic prosperity, we need to think differently.
To guide our efforts, the UN has defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Four essential goals, namely "life on land," "life under water," "clean water," and "sanitation," are related to our biosphere. Without these goals, sustaining life becomes impossible. Additionally, eight goals focus on our society, addressing social structures, equality, and justice. Four goals pertain to the economy, aiming for a healthy, robust, and active economy that benefits us all. The final, 17th goal connects all these themes together—partnerships. We can't all possess the same knowledge or abilities, so it is crucial for us to find business partners who complement our weaknesses and provide different perspectives.
It is impractical to tackle all 17 goals simultaneously. We must prioritize our efforts and determine where we can make the most significant impact. One approach to prioritization is dividing the goals into three layers.
Image credit: Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University CC BY-ND 3.0.
Achieving Sustainable Cattle Production
Sustainable cattle production begins in the fields with the cultivation of good and sustainable feed for the cows. We need to grow crops that are suitable for our soil and climate conditions while caring for the environment, preserving our drinking water, and recycling waste products from other sectors whenever possible.
Effective field management requires striking a balance between crops for human consumption and crops for high-quality animal feed. The more digestible our feed is, the greater feed efficiency we can achieve in the barn. Feed efficiency is crucial for minimizing methane emissions during the cows' digestion process.
After the feed has been produced and analyzed, it is important to continue monitoring the complete feed ration. There can be variations of 0.5-1% in, for example, absorbable protein content between the stack analysis and the total feed ration. Such discrepancies can make a difference between optimal feed efficiency and unnecessary waste.
Reducing water consumption is also essential. Proper placement of water troughs ensures that water remains fresh and clean for the animals. It's worth noting that a cow needs approximately 5L of water for every liter of milk it produces. We should use water judiciously for washing and cleaning purposes.
Attention to animal welfare within the herd is crucial. Healthy and strong animals that are well-cared for yield higher-quality milk and better meat than animals in suboptimal conditions. Animal welfare is a concern for Danish consumers, who value "A life worth living" for farm animals. It is no longer just about providing freedom from hunger, thirst, disease, and predators. Our consumers expect Danish cattle herds to provide ample space for movement, free access to water and feed, opportunities to engage in normal behavior, and social interaction. However, we acknowledge that quantifying such statements can be challenging for our product's customers, such as Arla or Danish Crown, as well as for supermarkets and consumers themselves. Therefore, it is necessary to provide concrete data and discuss our sustainability practices within the herds.
Additionally, we must consider the entire transport and processing chain, from milk transportation to dairies, processing, packaging, and distribution to supermarkets.
Regardless of whether you are a farmer or part of a supermarket chain, taking responsibility for the products you supply is crucial. This responsibility is particularly important when it involves animal products, as understanding farming systems and their impact on animals is vital. The choices made at the refrigerated counter directly affect animal welfare in fields and barns.
Engaging in Conversations about Sustainability
Consumers need access to fact-based knowledge and a solid veterinary foundation to make responsible decisions at the refrigerated counter. If you want tangible figures on herd sustainability, a good starting point is the veterinarian's herd and welfare report.
Some critical areas within the scope of Healthy Cows and Good Animal Welfare include cow and calf mortality rates, voluntary culling (within the first 100 days), number of milking years, and lifetime performance.
Ensuring animal health begins with proper planning for insemination and feeding of pregnant cows. We must focus on developing the next generation of robust animals even while they are in the womb.
Handling dry cows and preparing colostrum are vital steps in ensuring the well-being of fully developed foetuses. Colostrum contains more than just brix%—it includes growth factors, hormones, and all the essential components for a calf's early life.
However, challenges arise in the form of diseases, parasites, and insufficient attention to calf care, leading to calf mortality rates that have not significantly improved over the past 20 years. We can do better.
Each time we lose an animal, it represents wasted resources. We have invested in calf feed, cared for the calf, and prepared everything for the heifer's future contribution to production. We may have even treated the heifer or sought veterinary assistance.
Human and Animal Health
Another aspect to consider is our use of treatments. Antibiotics, for instance, are necessary to protect animals and humans from bacterial infections. Antibiotics themselves are not inherently evil, but their usage must be judicious. We should use them sparingly but adequately, minimizing their use whenever possible.
Prescription is required for our anti-parasitic agents, and according to the new EU medicinal product regulation, they must be kept on the farm if there is a herd diagnosis that necessitates their use or if they are used on the same day as treatment. Previously, they could be stored on the farm for up to five days.
More importantly, we need to recognize the environmental impact of our antimicrobial agents beyond the herd. This impact applies to bacteria that naturally exist in our bodies, worms in the soil, organisms in streams, or flying insects that help pollinate crops in fields.
Every day, food producers contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle, enhanced food safety, and improved health for animals and people. However, cattle farming is also a business, and it requires the collaboration of companies, individuals, and life itself to thrive in this new agenda. Success doesn't happen automatically; it requires a personal choice to make a difference—for ourselves and for everyone.
By Katrine Lawaetz, Director VetSalus
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