From The National FARM Program – more details here
FARM Animal Care Program standards are revised every three years to reflect the most current science and best management practices within the dairy industry. Standards, rationale and accountability measures are reviewed and revised by the FARM Animal Care Task Force and National Milk Producers Federation Animal Health and Well-Being Committee with input from industry stakeholder groups including farmers, animal scientists and veterinarians. The National Milk Producers Federation Board of Directors provides final approval on version standards. FARM is currently facilitating the development of FARM Animal Care Version 5.
The following changes were approved by the NMPF Board of Directors in March 2023 to be implemented in FARM Animal Care Version 5:
Locomotion
- Establish benchmark for moderate lameness 15% with associated Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP)
Disbudding
- Elevate pain management standard from Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) to Mandatory Corrective Action Plan (MCAP)
- Acceptable methods: Caustic Paste & Cautery
Calves
- Revision to how colostrum feeding standards are evaluated:
- Meet quantity (10% birth weight), quality (visual, colostrometer, etc.) and timeliness (within 6 hours) guidelines; OR evidence of successful transfer of passive immunity
Continuing Education
- Elevate Family Employee standard from Continuous Improvement Plan to Mandatory Corrective Action Plan (MCAP)
Euthanasia
- Identification primary & secondary individuals for euthanasia implementation
- Confirmation of death in protocol
Program Implementation
- Establish discovery process between FARM & co-op/processor for farms that exceed animal observation benchmarks significantly
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