Yeo Valley Wins Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards
Yeo Valley has been awarded the inaugural Good Dairy Award from the Compassion in World Farming Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards 2011. The new award, created specifically to recognise food organisations that go the extra mile to improve the lives of cows and calves, was presented to Yeo Valley at the award ceremony last night (Wednesday 6th July)
The Somerset organic dairy farm has a long standing commitment to providing the highest levels of animal welfare. In 1972 founders, Roger and Mary Mead, selected British Friesians for their herd, a tradition which has stood the test of time down to the breed’s inherent longevity and natural fertility. The livestock are reared in line with Soil Association organic standards which include having access to pasture when weather conditions permit, typically in the south west, grazing from early April to late October.
Up to receive the award from TV chef and farm animal welfare advocate Paul Merrett, was Yeo Valleys Director of Communications, Graham Keating. Mr. Keating said:
Yeo Valley and Soil Association Organic standards demand the highest levels of animal welfare. We are delighted that the Good Dairy Award recognises this, on both our own farm and on the 90 OMSCo farms which supply milk for Yeo Valley Organic products.
Compassion in World Farming is the leading international farm animal welfare charity, campaigning to end cruel factory farming. Launched in 2007, Compassions Food Business Team works with some of the worlds top food companies, inspiring progress through the awards scheme and supporting products and initiatives which represent tangible benefits for both farm animals and businesses. Compassion, working with the food industry, improves the lives of millions of farm animals each year, moving towards a more ethical and sustainable food supply.
Yeo Valley: Yeo Valley Farms Production Ltd is an independent, family-owned farming and dairy-processing business based in Blagdon, North Somerset. Yeo Valley Organic is the largest organic brand in the UK, purchasing organic milk from a West Country based cooperative whose farmers take great care of their dairy herds and pride in the quality of the milk they produce. The company also produces retailer-branded products for most of the UKs major retailers. Yeo Valley began making yogurt in 1972 and now has four production dairies at Blagdon, Cannington, Crewkerne and Newton Abbot. The company employs over 1,400 people and holds three Queens Awards for Enterprise for Sustainable Development, The 2011 Marketing Society Awards Grand Prix Award as well as being shortlisted for an Observer Ethical Business Award 2011. www.yeovalleyorganic.co.uk
Compassion in World Farmings Food Business Team:Compassion in World Farmings Food Business Team engages with Europes leading food companies, inspiring progress through prestigious awards and supporting products and initiatives which represent tangible benefits for farm animals. We also encourage higher-welfare food purchasing in the public sector. www.compassioninfoodbusiness.org Compassion in World Farmings Food Business Team is generously supported by The Tubney Charitable Trust; a grant making charity seeking to support activities that have a long term, sustainable, positive impact on the biodiversity of the UK and on the welfare of farmed animals in the UK and internationally.
About the Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards 2011: The Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards 2011 were presented in four categories: The Good Egg Awards (rewarding organisations who make the commitment to source cage-free eggs ); The Good Chicken Awards (rewarding organisations who make the commitment to source higher welfare chicken) The good Dairy Awards (rewarding organisations who make the commitment to source dairy produce from higher welfare cows) and the Supermarket Awards (based on the results of our Supermarket Survey YEAR)