There are few foods in our diet that take up as much time for discussions, documents, treatises or scientific studies as milk . It is talked about at all levels and in any forum, of course in the field of nutrition. Today, concern for the animal welfare of dairy cows is added as a factor of quality and food safety.
94% of Spaniards care about the welfare of farm animals
According to the latest Eurobarometer on animal protection, 94% of Spaniards believe that the welfare of farm animals is important . Spaniards are increasingly concerned about the living conditions of animals and, according to this Eurobarometer, 71% would like to have more information.
"The main properties of a food as important in the diet as milk, depend fundamentally on how it is treated from its origin. Milk obtained through a careful process and controlling all the parameters that may affect it is critical to obtain high quality milk ”, says Tomás Pascual, president of Calidad Pascual. Food and rest are essential for good health of cattle, and that good health has a direct impact on the quality of milk.
Did you know that on average a cow needs a 15 hour break?
The good work of the field makes a difference in the fridge. Animal welfare can be a key factor for the Spanish dairy sector to differentiate itself. Under this prism and responding to the demand for transparency of the new consumer profile, Calidad Pascual has achieved the AENOR Conform Animal Welfare certificate in its 348 dairy farms. Thus, it becomes the only large manufacturer with all its certified farms.
What is the Animal Welfare certificate?
This certificate certifies that Pascual's milk supply farms comply with the requirements of the AENOR Animal Welfare model, developed together with the Institute for Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) and based on the European Welfare Quality® reference, the standard used to make the evaluations on farm. In short, this pioneering accreditation model in Europe takes into account different parameters grouped into 4 basic principles .
The keys to an Animal Welfare farm are:
- Good feeding of the cows
- Good accomodation
- Good health
- Appropriate behavior of animals
With this certification, Calidad Pascual continues to lead the way, almost half a century after its foundation. “We don't make milk, milk is made by our cows. Our goal is to give the best in each part of the process, to guarantee that the best milk reaches homes ”, says Tomás Pascual, president of the company. At present, to produce milk it is not enough to "milk" the cows, you must have control over all the parameters of the livestock, and thus ensure quality from the source. Animal welfare has become a differential factor in obtaining a raw material from "milk".
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