Dairy Pool Standards

  1. Housing and Environment

    2. Each dairy cattle housing type has advantages and disadvantages for cows and producers. Blood flow to the udder (and milk production) is maximized when cows lie down. Cows with clean, comfortable areas for lying will spend 12 to 14 hours per day lying down and change position less frequently.

    Environmental considerations include indoor space requirements, lighting, air quality and outdoor access. Providing dairy cattle with ample comfortable space makes for healthier, happier cows.

    1. Housing

      2. Intent: CROPP Cooperative recognizes there are many methods of housing cows. There is no perfect housing system. Proper housing management is the key to cow comfort, freedom from injury and longevity. With the outcome-based scoring system Organic Valley has developed, cows in any housing type can be scored to document how well they are doing and where improvement may be needed.

      Stall dimensions should be appropriate for the largest cows on the farm to prevent injury and keep cows comfortable. All stalls should have a bed that maximizes comfort and prevents injury to cows. Whether it is a rubber mat, foam bed, rubber crumb-filled mattress, sand bed or waterbed, any purchased cow bed should maintain cushioning ability and protect the integrity of cow skin where it rubs on the bed surface.

      1. Stanchion or tie-stall barns

        2. It is easier to handle an injured cow or one that needs treatment in a stanchion, which is the most restrictive housing type. Tie-stalls provide greater freedom of movement while the cow is in the stall. Cows in stanchions or tie-stalls tend to have a closer bond with their handlers than cows kept in other types of facilities because of the closer interaction required. Any change in appetite is readily seen and illness is caught very quickly.

      2. Free-stall barns

        3. Cows housed in free-stall tend to have more hoof health problems, due to being on wet concrete for long periods of time. This contributes to lameness incidence, which is the biggest challenge in the dairy industry today. It is important there are enough stalls available to every cow and enough space for all to eat or young, small, injured or submissive cows will not get enough food to eat or time to rest. Cows move as a herd – they all eat at the same time and they all rest at the same time.

      3. Bedded or compost pack barns

        4. Bedded or compost pack barns may provide the greatest comfort and the least potential for cow injury. However, depending on the region, it may be impossible to source enough bedding to keep cows clean, dry and comfortable.

        Standard: Housing for cows must be properly sized, bedded with the best bedding for cow comfort and well-maintained for animal safety. Animals are not to be confined in tie stalls, free stalls or stanchions except for milking and during temporary confinement in accordance with organic practices. In times of temporary confinement, cows shall have daily access to a sunlit exercise yard.

    2. Calf Housing Policy

      3. Intent: Calves are the future of every dairy. They respond to excellent housing and nutrition with superior health and growth. Calves do not require anything fancy, but respond very well to open-air facilities that provide protection from the elements.

      Standard: Calf housing must be well ventilated, clean, dry and comfortable with sufficient space to lie down, turn, groom and express natural behavior. Calves are subject to the same scoring systems as dairy cows (see Section III).

    3. Indoor Space Requirement

      4. Intent: When cows require respite from outdoor weather conditions, they must have adequate comfortable space, which is dependent on the type of barn or shelter provided. When they must be sheltered indoors, cows and calves should be clean, dry, comfortable, and able to lie down, stand up, groom and express other natural behaviors.

      Standard: Cows and calves will be provided with sufficient indoor space to be comfortable and perform natural behaviors when necessary.

    4. Bedding

      5. Intent: Cows and calves should have enough bedding to keep them clean, dry and comfortable.

      Standard: Housing must be managed with enough bedding to maintain comfortable and clean cows and calves. If the bedding is an agricultural product, it must be certified organic.

    5. Lighting

      6. Intent: All producers must provide periods of light and darkness to reflect the natural cycle in the animals’ day. Sunlight should be part of the light source whenever possible. While this may not be feasible in existing facilities, every effort should be made to include natural light in new construction. Providing eight hours of darkness maximizes production, reproduction, animal well-being and economic viability.

      Standard: Producers must provide at least eight continuous hours of darkness or the natural day/night cycle per day to allow animals adequate rest periods. Red light, including heat lamps, is permitted during the dark period.

    6. Air Quality Monitoring

      7. Intent: All producers should have a plan in place to ensure livestock living conditions include good quality air. Air quality problems can be caused by ammonia, dust, gases, moisture and temperature. To maintain fresh air during seasonal changes, additional effort is needed. During cold weather, barns are often closed up to retain warmth and prevent water from freezing. This may result in ammonia levels that compromise animals’ comfort level and health. Air quality depends on barn management, feeding and manure handling systems, ventilation, overall cleanliness and the type of livestock. Animals need good air quality to maintain appropriate growth and production. Ventilation should provide an adequate supply of fresh air inside the barn, control temperature and maintain acceptable levels of dust, gases, moisture and odors. Supplemental heat may be necessary during the cool season.

      Standard: It is necessary to provide an adequate ventilation system and appropriate means to minimize ammonia and dust levels. Ammonia levels in the facility may never exceed 25 parts per million.

      Recommendation: Respirable dust levels should be less than 1.7 mg per cubic meter. Total dust level should be less than 3.4 mg per cubic meter. Ridge vents are highly encouraged to remove dust in the air.

    7. Outdoor Access

      8. Intent: Animals must have outdoor access. It maximizes animal health and immunity as animals get exercise, sunlight, fresh air and contact with the earth. Access to the outdoors allows animals to express natural behaviors and relieves boredom.

      Standard: In addition to pasture requirements, animals must have access to the outdoors on a daily basis whenever possible. Cows must be exercised outdoors on a daily basis except during extreme weather conditions that may endanger the livesto

    8. Pasture

      9. Intent: Pasture quality is important in providing superior nutrition for cows. Access to pasture gives cows exercise, strengthening their bodies and maximizing health.


      Standard: Dairy Pool Producers must adhere to the CROPP Pasture Policy, which requires:

      • Lactating cows spend a minimum of 120 days on pasture each grazing season.
      • A minimum of 30 percent of lactating cows’ dry matter intake comes from grazed pasture.
      • The standard stocking rate is three lactating cows per acre, unless the farmer demonstrates a higher rate is sustainable.
      • Dry cows spend a minimum of 120 days on pasture during the grazing season.
      • Youngstock must spend a minimum of 120 days on pasture, with a minimum of 30 percent of their dry matter intake coming from pasture after 6 months of age.
      • After 1 year of age, youngstock must have pasture access during that region’s grazing season.
    9. Shade

      10. Intent: Shade is vitally important for dairy cattle, as they are well suited to cold weather, but not to heat and humidity. Production and butterfat are reduced when relief from heat and humidity are ineffective. Cattle may suffer heat stroke and death when heat is extreme and cooling methods are inadequate. Shade, misters, sprinklers, extra access to drinking water and fans can be utilized to keep cows cool and comfortable.

      Standard: During stressful heat conditions, access to shade is provided to all livestock. A formal standard will be developed in the future.

  2. Dairy Replacements

    3. Allowing only certified organic animals to be brought into an existing organic herd maintains herd health and immunity strengths.

    Intent: Adding only certified organic animals to an existing organic herd verifies CROPP farmers’ commitment to a strong organic program with no shortcuts.

    Standard: Once a farm is converted to organic, all replacement animals born on the farm must be managed as organic from the last third of gestation. All purchased animals must be certified organic.

  3. Herd Condition Measures

    4. There are many benefits that support regular dairy herd scoring. The first is to monitor and improve health and herd production efficiencies. The second is the ability to demonstrate the herd is well cared for and that any potential problems are promptly addressed.

    There are four herd condition measures that are scored. Animal hygiene is dependent on many factors including season, pasture condition and bedding provision. Body condition indicates feed quality, lactation stage and pasture management. Locomotion issues usually stem from an injury to the hoof, but may be the result of an injury higher up in the leg. Lesions indicate and result from something irritating or injurious in the environment. See the Organic Valley dairy score card for score ranges and parameters.

    Every farmer should use these as management performance measures. Change is easily tracked, improvements noted and potential problems can be avoided.

    1. Animal Hygiene Score

      2. Intent: CROPP recognizes hygiene is important for herd health and producing quality milk. All cows should be scored for hygiene, as this indicates their comfort and the level of management the farmer provides. Weather conditions sould be noted.

      Standard: Indoor and outdoor environments must be managed to prevent excessive mud and manure accumulation on cows and calves. Score the entire herd. No more than 10 percent of cows should score 3 or greater

    2. Body Condition Score

      3. Intent: CROPP recognizes hygiene is important for herd health and producing quality milk. All cows should be scored for hygiene, as this indicates their comfort and the level of management the farmer provides. Weather conditions should be noted.

      Standard: Indoor and outdoor environments must be managed to prevent excessive mud and manure accumulation on cows and calves. Score the entire herd. No more than 10 percent of cows should score 3 or greater

    3. Locomotion Score

      4. Intent: Locomotion scoring measures the ease or comfort level with which cows walk. Scores reflect foot and leg health and the promptness of care given to affected cows. Lameness is a multifactorial disease and is the biggest well-being concern affecting the dairy industry.

      Standard: Score the entire herd. No more than 10 percent of cows may score 3 or greater.

    4. Hock/Knee Lesions Score

      5. Intent: Lesions on the hocks and knees reflect the condition of pastures, pens, beds or stalls where cows lie down. Hocks and knees will be in good condition if the rest area is a well-cushioned or bedded surface.

      Standard: Score the entire herd. No more than 5 percent of cows should score 2 or greater for hocks or knees.

    5. Coat

      6. Intent: Healthy, well-fed cattle should have full, shiny hair coats. Patches of missing hair are indicative of poor nutrition, lice, mange or another untreated condition.

      Standard: Cows are not allowed to be missing patches of hair as a result of poor nutrition or infestation by lice or mange. Treatment for these conditions must be immediate. Calves less than 3 months old may be missing patches of hair on the face or thigh due to alopecia.

    6. Culling Rate

      7. Intent: The cull to slaughter rate measures multiple practices. It indicates cow health and how long cows live or stay in the herd. A high cull rate indicates a need for improvement. Tracking the reason cows have been culled may lead to making economically beneficial changes to the operation.

      Standard: Less than 20 percent of animals should be removed annually for slaughter. If the rate is high, an explanation should be provided.

    7. Mortality Rate

      8. Intent: A herd’s mortality rate measures multiple practices and indicates the level of disease present in and veterinary care provided to cattle. Tracking the reasons animals are lost may lead to making economically beneficial changes to the operation.

      Standard: Less than 10 percent of pre-weaned calves and less than 5 percent of post-weaned animals should die or be put down on the farm. If the mortality rate is high, an explanation must be provided.

    8. Broken Tails

      9. Intent: When cows are properly handled, there should not be any cows with broken tails. Several cows with broken tails may indicate facility problems, poor animal handling skills or inhumane treatment.

      Standard: Broken tails are not allowed. If broken tails are found, an explanation must be provided.

  4. Physical alterations

    5. CROPP Cooperative farmers perform as few physically altering procedures as necessary. Animals’ trauma is minimized by performing any necessary procedures at the youngest possible age. Pain management is highly encouraged for painful procedures and is required for dehorning beyond 60 days of age.

    1. Dehorning

      2. Intent: Dehorning prevents injury to animals and their handlers. It is a painful procedure and nerve blocks and pain killers should be used as directed by CROPP Cooperative veterinarians. Farmers are encouraged to seek polled sires for their breeding programs to eliminate the need for this procedure.

      Standard: Dehorning is permitted for calves up to 60 days old, preferably less than 30 days old. Lidocaine is encouraged. Animals that are dehorned at more than 60 days old must receive a lidocaine nerve block from qualified personnel.

    2. Tail Docking

      3. Intent: Cattle should be allowed to exhibit natural behavior, which maximizes their well being. Removing the tail can result in chronic pain and provides no benefit to the animal.

      Standard: Tail docking is prohibited due to pain and suffering and the animal’s consequent inability to swish flies.

    3. Identification

      4. Intent: Farmers are encouraged to identify animals by the least painful or invasive method possible.

      Freeze branding is less painful than hot iron branding, but does not work on all colors of cattle, as the hair grows back in white. Small ear notches or tattoos are more permanent, but harder to read. Ear tags are highly visible, but may be lost if they get caught in brush, feeders or other livestock equipment.

      Standard: Branding, ear notching, ear tagging and tattooing are permitted for identification purposes and as required by state law.

    4. Castration

      5. Intent: Farmers are encouraged to castrate as early as possible, since younger animals heal faster. The ideal age varies by method.

      Standard: Elastrator or surgical castration is permitted for cattle within 60 days of age, but should be done as early as possible.

    5. Supernumerary Teat Removal

      6. Intent: Supernumerary teats may cause problems for the animal later in life if they are not removed. It is sometimes necessary to wait until a calf is a few months old to determine which teats may be extra ones.

      Standard: This procedure is permitted for animals less than 5 months old.

    6. Cloning

      7. Intent: CROPP Cooperative farmers are committed to natural breeding and selection.

      Standard: Cloned animals, their offspring and semen from cloned animals are prohibited.

  5. Materials and Equipment

    6. Minimizing or prohibiting the use of certain materials and equipment assures cows’ health, comfort and contentment.

    1. Oxytocin

      2. Intent: CROPP does not allow the use of any synthetic hormones. While the National Organic Program allows oxytocin’s use, Organic Valley producers use sound animal care practices and homeopathic remedies to get cows back on track if necessary.

      Standard: The use of all synthetic hormones, including oxytocin, for any reason is prohibited.

    2. Nose Leaders

      3. Intent: Nose leaders can be frightening and painful to animals and are to be used only when safety is an overwhelming concern. Allowing the animal 20 to 30 minutes to calm down may help in some situations.

      Standard: Nose leaders are allowed for mature bulls. They should not be used for cows except where animal or worker safety is threatened and its use is least traumatic.

    3. Electric Cow Trainers

      4. Intent: The constant fear cows experience, in addition to electric shocks, when they are regularly exposed to electric cow trainers adds a great deal of stress to the animals, which must be content for maximum production and profitability. If necessary, trainers should only be turned on occasionally as a reminder.

      Standard: Trainers may be used for the cow’s cleanliness and to assure high milk quality in tie stall or stanchion barns. Trainers should be set at the maximum effective distance above animals and at the minimum effective voltage. Cow trainers must be avoidable by livestock.

    4. Electric Gates and Prods

      5. Intent: Electric crowd gates manage pre-milking holding areas. The gates come in many forms, from homemade and simple to complex and expensive. A good simple gate uses a pulley operated from the pit and has bells that jingle when it moves forward. This gate may have an electric wire used only on occasion for training purposes. One of the best complex gates has loud bells to alert cows it is moving forward, stops when it makes contact with a cow and then backs up, doing so three times before shutting down. This setup plays to cows’ moving best when the gate begins to move forward. Some powered gates can cause injury to cows because the gate does not stop when it makes contact with cows.

      Electric crowd gates should only be electrified as a reminder when cows forget or for training purposes when new animals are introduced.

      Electric prods should only be used when cows are down and will make no effort to get up on their own. Prodding attempts should stop when cows make no attempt to get up and away from the prod.

      Standard: Any electric shocking devices must be used only in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and must be avoidable by livestock. Routine use of electric crowd gates for purposes other than training is prohibited.

      Electric prods may be used for down cows minimally and only when necessary. When the cow no longer makes an effort, prodding must stop.

  6. Transportation

    7. CROPP Cooperative farmers comply with transportation methods that minimize any fear and stress for the animals being transported.

    1. Transportation

      2. Intent: Animals should be handled in a respectful and compassionate manner during transportation. Transportation deserves special consideration, as this is one of the most stressful periods in an animal’s life. Gentle and quiet handling of animals will improve productivity, meat quality and profitability. It will also save labor and create more pleasant workplaces.

      Standard:

      • During loading and unloading, the utmost care must be exercised to ensure livestock is treated humanely.
      • Animals must be loaded so as not to exceed manufacturer and Department of Transportation legal weight limits. Haulers must be aware of weather, time and other conditions and must adjust loading densities accordingly.
      • The floors of livestock transportation vehicles must be constructed with suitable traction or strewn with sufficient sand, wood chips or other non-slip material to prevent slipping and provide secure footing for the animals during transport.
      • All livestock transportation vehicle bodies and racks must be adequately ventilated during all seasons of the year to protect against stresses such as suffocation, excessive drafts and/or overexposure to heat or cold.
      • Animals shall not be hauled for more than 10 hours without access to water.
    2. Rest Time

      3. Intent: Animals that are handled quietly and treated with respect for their needs for rest, feed and water during transportation will arrive at their destination in the best condition possible.

      Standard: If animals are transported for more than 20 hours, they must be given a place to exercise, eat and drink. Feed, including pasture, must be certified organic.