There is more to the issue of supply management in the Canadian dairy industry than simple economics.
In a holistic view of the supply management system, the impact on animal welfare is worth considering.
One of the major concerns about opening up Canada’s borders to imported milk is that most will come from the United States.
Dairy veterinarian Dr. Rob Walsh emphasizes that dairy producers know that well looked after cows do better than those that are not, regardless of which side of the border they farm.
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However, from an animal welfare perspective, there are differences between dairy farms in Canada and the U.S. that deserve attention.
Information that directly compares the welfare implications of the two systems is hard to come by, but there are some indirect measurements that could imply significant welfare differences.
For one, the average lifetime lactations per cow in Canada is four to five, compared to 2.4 for U.S. cows. This statistic implies less frequent culling in Canadian cows, which may be an indirect measure of welfare. Cows that live long, productive lives ultimately produce more milk per cow than those that are culled as younger cows.
If we apply the welfare principle of reducing the total number of animals used, then maximizing the production of a single cow is better for welfare, if all else is held equal.
This longer productive lifespan also suggests that cows in Canada may be treated for disease and illness rather than simply culled from the herd.
Herd ownership is another indirect indicator of welfare.
More families and individuals own dairy farms in Canada than corporations. Corporate-owned farms may have high standards and the ability to implement high-quality management, but there may be an advantage to having owners who manage the farms and work directly with their cows.
“If the person actually milking the cows is the owner, that raises the bar of care,” Walsh says.
“An employee working for minimum wage is probably less invested than someone who owns the farm and that farm is their livelihood.”
Supply management also provides a framework, including funding, for national programs.
Dairy Farmers of Canada is im-plementing a mandatory national program called proAction, which will hold dairy farms to a standard for animal care as well as milk quality and environmental stewardship.
“Trying to implement welfare standards nationally is a big job, but this new program is formalizing what is being done on farms already and will drive producers to critically evaluate their current practices looking for opportunities to improve,” Walsh says.
A key component of the proAction initiative is an animal welfare assessment based on the National Farm Animal Care Council’s Dairy Code of Practice.
“For each litre of milk that leaves a Canadian dairy farm, there is a portion of the revenue that funds the infrastructure required to audit and enforce the high standards that the consumer demands.”
Producing milk in Canada for domestic consumption provides the opportunity to implement science-based welfare standards. Society’s ability to drive welfare-friendly practices is diminished if we import milk.
Animal welfare can always be improved, and programs such as proAction provide a mechanism for this to occur.
“We are addressing welfare issues with the best science we have available and we are always striving to do better,” says Walsh.
In an age when consumers care about more than just the price of their milk, it is worthwhile to reflect on the animal welfare value provided by our supply management system.
