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Please sign for better lives for cows in the European Union!
12 years ago
If you live in a country within the EU, please sign this petition for better treatment of dairy cows within the EU!
Sign here: http://www.happycows.eu/sign
Unfortunately, only those who live within the EU can sign!
By signing, this mail will be sent to the EU commission:
"To EU Commissioner,
Europe’s 23 Million cows don't have specific rules to protect their welfare as there are for pigs and hens. I think it’s unfair and I believe we need to show our hard-working dairy cows some love. I want you to use your influence to introduce a specific EU Directive to protect them. The campaign Supporting Better Dairy has a full proposal on the Directive content that I believe you should consider. You can view it at http://www.happycows.eu/EUDirectiveContent
Thank you,"
The proposal for the better rules read like this:
Proposal for a EU Directive on Dairy Cow Welfare
New EU rules for the welfare of dairy cows could be based on the four Welfare Quality® principles of Good Feeding, Good Housing, Good Health and Appropriate Behaviour.
The Directive should introduce common, specific and enforceable standards across Europe as for laying hens, calves, pigs and chickens reared for meat. These standards should be based on ethical values and sound scientific evidence, consistent with the scientific opinions and reports of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and appropriate for dairy systems across the EU.
In line with the four EU Welfare Quality® principles, the Directive should lay down rules that ensure:
Good Housing: Access to grazing and standards for indoor housing
Cows and replacement heifers should have daily access to grazing in the grass growing season and shelter against extreme weather. Where pasture access is not possible, outdoor access must be provided in all systems. When housed outdoor loafing areas must be provided with suitable drainage and appropriate bedding. Resting areas should be clean, comfortable, adequately drained, with soft bedding such as straw, sand or other deformable material.
Housing requirements should include minimum space allowances (for exercise, free movement, resting, feeding and drinking); individual penning should not be permitted. There should be at least 5-10% more cubicles or lying boxes than the number of cows in the group and all animals should be able to lie down simultaneously in loose housing systems.
Flooring should be non-slip. Smooth concrete floors must be grooved or treated with a non-slip coating; rough floors should not cause foot damage.
Prohibit tethering, except for specified procedures of short duration (eg. during veterinary procedures).
Conditions for indoor climate should be specified (lighting, temperature, ventilation, humidity, gas concentrations and noise levels).
Good Feeding: Daily diet meets the cow’s needs
The daily ration should provide sufficient energy, nutrients and dietary fibre to meet metabolic requirements and promote good digestion, with adequate roughage for correct rumen function. Grass grazing and/or forage should form a significant portion of the daily ration.
Feeding systems should allow each cow to meet her needs for quantity and quality of feed.
Fresh and clean drinking water must be provided ad libitum indoor and out.
Good Health: Ensuring cows are healthy, and do not undergo pain and suffering
Improvement programmes should be implemented for the reduction of lameness, mastitis and infertility and to improve body condition.
Permissible non-therapeutic surgical procedures should be specified. Castration, dehorning and disbudding should be performed under prolonged analgesia and anaesthesia. Branding and the use of non-therapeutic drugs are not permitted.
Regular inspection of animals is required with adequate veterinary treatment for sick or injured animals; sick pens have defined standards. High levels of stockmanship are required; appropriate training programmes should be required. Regular cleaning and disinfection protocols are required.
Breeding should promote robustness, good health and longevity and confirmation that ensures male calves can be utilised for veal or beef. Requirement that the calf receives good quality colostrum within the first 6 hours.
Appropriate Behaviour: Cows have the opportunity to express their natural behaviour
The yield potential should not limit the behavioural repertoire of the lactating cow (there should be time for exercise, grazing and socialising ) or her ability to sustain milk production off a grass based diet without experiencing digestive problems or excessive loss of body condition due to high yields.
Excessive aggression should be prevented by keeping cows in appropriate social groups with appropriate pen design.
Handling aids should be specified (electric prods, loud noise and physical force should be prohibited).
Sign here: http://www.happycows.eu/sign
Sign here: http://www.happycows.eu/sign
Unfortunately, only those who live within the EU can sign!
By signing, this mail will be sent to the EU commission:
"To EU Commissioner,
Europe’s 23 Million cows don't have specific rules to protect their welfare as there are for pigs and hens. I think it’s unfair and I believe we need to show our hard-working dairy cows some love. I want you to use your influence to introduce a specific EU Directive to protect them. The campaign Supporting Better Dairy has a full proposal on the Directive content that I believe you should consider. You can view it at http://www.happycows.eu/EUDirectiveContent
Thank you,"
The proposal for the better rules read like this:
Proposal for a EU Directive on Dairy Cow Welfare
New EU rules for the welfare of dairy cows could be based on the four Welfare Quality® principles of Good Feeding, Good Housing, Good Health and Appropriate Behaviour.
The Directive should introduce common, specific and enforceable standards across Europe as for laying hens, calves, pigs and chickens reared for meat. These standards should be based on ethical values and sound scientific evidence, consistent with the scientific opinions and reports of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and appropriate for dairy systems across the EU.
In line with the four EU Welfare Quality® principles, the Directive should lay down rules that ensure:
Good Housing: Access to grazing and standards for indoor housing
Cows and replacement heifers should have daily access to grazing in the grass growing season and shelter against extreme weather. Where pasture access is not possible, outdoor access must be provided in all systems. When housed outdoor loafing areas must be provided with suitable drainage and appropriate bedding. Resting areas should be clean, comfortable, adequately drained, with soft bedding such as straw, sand or other deformable material.
Housing requirements should include minimum space allowances (for exercise, free movement, resting, feeding and drinking); individual penning should not be permitted. There should be at least 5-10% more cubicles or lying boxes than the number of cows in the group and all animals should be able to lie down simultaneously in loose housing systems.
Flooring should be non-slip. Smooth concrete floors must be grooved or treated with a non-slip coating; rough floors should not cause foot damage.
Prohibit tethering, except for specified procedures of short duration (eg. during veterinary procedures).
Conditions for indoor climate should be specified (lighting, temperature, ventilation, humidity, gas concentrations and noise levels).
Good Feeding: Daily diet meets the cow’s needs
The daily ration should provide sufficient energy, nutrients and dietary fibre to meet metabolic requirements and promote good digestion, with adequate roughage for correct rumen function. Grass grazing and/or forage should form a significant portion of the daily ration.
Feeding systems should allow each cow to meet her needs for quantity and quality of feed.
Fresh and clean drinking water must be provided ad libitum indoor and out.
Good Health: Ensuring cows are healthy, and do not undergo pain and suffering
Improvement programmes should be implemented for the reduction of lameness, mastitis and infertility and to improve body condition.
Permissible non-therapeutic surgical procedures should be specified. Castration, dehorning and disbudding should be performed under prolonged analgesia and anaesthesia. Branding and the use of non-therapeutic drugs are not permitted.
Regular inspection of animals is required with adequate veterinary treatment for sick or injured animals; sick pens have defined standards. High levels of stockmanship are required; appropriate training programmes should be required. Regular cleaning and disinfection protocols are required.
Breeding should promote robustness, good health and longevity and confirmation that ensures male calves can be utilised for veal or beef. Requirement that the calf receives good quality colostrum within the first 6 hours.
Appropriate Behaviour: Cows have the opportunity to express their natural behaviour
The yield potential should not limit the behavioural repertoire of the lactating cow (there should be time for exercise, grazing and socialising ) or her ability to sustain milk production off a grass based diet without experiencing digestive problems or excessive loss of body condition due to high yields.
Excessive aggression should be prevented by keeping cows in appropriate social groups with appropriate pen design.
Handling aids should be specified (electric prods, loud noise and physical force should be prohibited).
Sign here: http://www.happycows.eu/sign
sanjiva
~sanjiva
But, there is no Serbia here :C
Mooie
~mooie
The least I can do, is add this to http://cow.se/
