Tirlán, an Irish-based milk cooperative, published their “Quality and Safety Purchasing Policy for Manufacturing and Liquid Milk 2024” in January. This document outlines the standards that all raw-milk suppliers to the co-op are required to meet. The standards cover milk quality, food safety, biosecurity, animal health and welfare. The document outlines that suppliers must comply with A Greener World’s Animal Welfare Approved standards (by 2025), as well as the Irish Cooperative Organisation Society (ICOS) calf welfare charter. An important requirement for calf welfare is that farmers must use a combination of local anaesthetic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) when disbudding calves at any age. Good management of surplus calves is also included in the policy.

To learn more, see: https://www.tirlan.com/