Dairy Animal Welfare

The Dairy Animal Welfare module within ROC seeks to ensure humane practices in the
raising and/or handling of animals intended to be sold or marketed using ROC claims.
Other livestock producers should refer to the ROC framework section VI. Animal Welfare
module.

1. Standards for Animal Welfare

The below standards are intended to incorporate the five freedoms of animal welfare, along
with any additional species-specific requirements. As stated in Section IV, to receive ROC, all
requirements listed in this section must be met, and all products sold, labeled, or
represented as regenerative organic must also comply with USDA organic regulations at 7
CFR Part 205, National Organic Program. Additionally, any livestock or livestock products
with organic and regenerative organic claims must comply with the USDA organic
regulations, and operations must comply with all federal humane handling, transportation,
and slaughter requirements, as outlined by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
and the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1978.

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 1. Base
Practice Description Bronze Silver Gold
Requirements
All livestock products intended to be sold with a
ROC claim must have proof of existing USDA
Organic certification or recognized equivalent for
livestock.

Operation has proof of existing animal welfare

1.1 Existing certification recognized under the ROC, as R* R R
Certifications applicable to the operation being certified.

* Dairies are exempt from holding an existing

animal welfare certification provided all applicable
criteria within this pillar are met and verified at ROC
audit.
Operations have researched all applicable laws
regarding animal welfare (general and species
1.2 General R R R
specific) and are in compliance with all local,
provincial/state, and national laws.
Animal welfare requirements apply to commercial Applicable to all
livestock operations. See specific requirements per animals on an
level at right. operation,
including those
Applicable to
CT: Egregious violations of the five freedoms of Applicable to used for dairy,
animals used
animal welfare and/or any abusive treatment of any animals used for meat, or fiber
1.3 Applicability for dairy, meat,
animals onsite, commercial or non-commercial. dairy, meat, or production and
or fiber
fiber production farm operations
production
(e.g. dogs used to
control predators,
horses used for
herding, etc.)

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 Operation does not feed animals in a manner that
meets the EPA’s definition of a CAFO: “A farm in
which animals are raised in confinement that has
1.4 Concentrated over 1,000 animal units confined for over 45 days a
Animal Feeding year.” R R R
Operation Exemptions may be granted to operations with
more than 1,000 animal units that demonstrate
ample pasture access and utilization. Operations
will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
2. Nutrition and Practice Description
Water Bronze Silver Gold
Feed and water must be distributed in such a way
that livestock can eat and drink without undue
competition. Animals have access to sufficient feed
2.1 General R R R
quantity to satisfy hunger & promote satiety. If
applicable, feed is stored to maintain freshness and
hygiene, avoiding mildew, mold, or contamination.
Animals have access to fresh and clean water for
drinking. Water fowl should also have access to
2.2 Water fresh or clean water for bathing. R R R

CT: Limited fresh water access.

Ruminant feed comes from regenerative organic or
certified organic grass/forage/baleage/hay. See
>75% grass-
requirements per level at right. >50% grass-fed; 100% grass-fed
2.3 Feed for fed; remainder
remainder from (including
Ruminants from organic
Supplementation for nutritional purposes using organic sources finishing)
sources
organically approved minerals, vitamins, and/or
molasses is allowed.
Operations do not force feed animals, unless it is
2.4 Forced Feeding for life-saving purposes. R R R

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 Farming practices promote proper nutrition,
2.5 Malnutrition avoiding malnutrition. R R R

3. Environment Practice Description

and Shelter Bronze Silver Gold
Environment considers an animal’s welfare needs.
Environment is designed to protect animals from
physical and thermal discomfort, fear, distress, and
allows them to perform natural behaviors
conducive to good animal welfare.
3.1 General R R R

Selection of species and types of livestock are

made with regard to suitability for site-specific
conditions and resistance to prevalent diseases and
pests.
Animals are provided with shelter adequate for
their physical and behavioral needs. Shelter for R
animals and birds may be provided by natural Dairies are
features such as shade, trees, or by buildings. allowed a two
Housing may also be used as shelter. In extreme year period to
3.2 Indoor Shelter weather there must be a means to feed and water transition to a R R
animals in a sheltered environment. free stall or
complete
Tie-Stall Barns: Tie-stall barns are not permitted for pasture-based
permanent housing; see exceptions for Bronze at operation.
right.
Operations do not use any type of permanent R R R
confinement that restricts mobility, and livestock Dairies are Dairies must Heifer calves
live, eat, and sleep outdoors the majority of the allowed a two- provide group remain paired
3.3 Confinement time in alignment with the principles of the Five year transitional pens for 3 to 8 with the mother
Freedoms. period to phase calves for entire cow until fully
There shall be continuous and open access to out individual calf rearing weaned and
pasture. hutches. operation. remains with the

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 Temporary confinement may be used only when Operation must herd on pasture.
necessary and must be in alignment with the ROC- begin trialing Single animals
approved baseline Animal Welfare standards. group pens for 3 born with no
to 8 calves. pen mates of
Individual Calf Hutches: Individual calf hutches similar size/age
are not permitted; see exceptions at right. Single animals can be
born with no pen separated in
mates of similar sub-pen in an
size/age can be existing group
separated in sub- pen or in calf
pen in an existing hutch
group pen or in immediately
calf hutch adjacent to the
immediately group pen for
adjacent to the up to three
group pen for up weeks.
to three weeks.

Animals have exposure to natural light and are not

exposed to artificial light for more than 16 hours
per day. A minimum period of 8 hours of
continuous darkness must be provided, unless
3.4 Light located in geographies where there is less than 8 R R R
hours of darkness at night. Natural light must be
sufficient indoors on sunny days, such that an
inspector can read and write when all lights are
turned off.
4. Handling & Practice Description
Management Bronze Silver Gold
Producers promote compassionate care and
4.1 General handling of animals. Daily inspections of animals R R R
occur.

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 Operations do not abuse animals or treat animals
with cruelty and do not use the practices listed
below. Exceptions to these prohibited practices
must be in alignment with the ROC-approved
baseline Animal Welfare standards.
• De-Horning^
• Disbudding^
• Prodding
• Tail Docking of Cattle

^Must meet specific requirements detailed below:

Dehorning and routine trimming/tipping of horns

are prohibited. The use of polled breeds is
recommended. Trimming of the horns is only
permitted for medical purposes when the health of
4.2 Physical R R R
the cow is negatively affected by their horn length
Modifications (e.g., horn tips are rubbing the eyes) or when the
length could negatively impact the welfare of other
animals, but this procedure must be performed by
an experienced individual using a method of low-
stress handling and restraint along with adequate
analgesic and anesthetic pain control. Additionally,
trimming must avoid the live innervated tissue
within the horns.

Disbudding is prohibited in calves over three

weeks of age. Hot iron cauterization allowed up to
three weeks of age, which must be preceded and
followed by administration of appropriate
anesthetic and analgesia to provide short- and
long-term pain relief. The procedure must be
performed by an experienced individual using low

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 stress handling and restraint techniques (e.g.,
sedation, disbudding crate). Any other methods of
disbudding prohibited (e.g., caustic paste,
scooping). The use of polled breeds is
recommended over disbudding practices. If ROC
producers disbud, they must demonstrate they are
incorporating polled genetics via semen purchase
for artificial insemination, herd bull selection, or
replacement cow purchase. Producers who are
disbudding must use polled genetics for breeding
at least 20% of their cow herd year over year or
until their calves no longer require disbudding. If
the producer is unable to find suitable polled
genetics, a record detailing efforts made to source
the genetics and why such efforts were
unsuccessful must be made available to the
inspector for review at each inspection.

Dairy bull calves

Dairy bull
Culled animals, such as dairy bull calves, shall not are sold to an Dairy bull calves
calves are sold
be sent to standard livestock auction. If no other operation with a are raised on site
to a certified
4.3 Disposition of viable alternative outlined at right is available, on- ROC approved to maturity or sold
organic
culled animals farm euthanasia shall be done in accordance with AW certification to another ROC
operation to be
Criteria 5.1. and/or a nearby farm to be raised
raised to
certified pasture- to maturity
maturity
based operation
5. Health Practice Description Bronze Silver Gold
Treatment for sick, injured, or diseased animals is
undertaken at the first reasonable opportunity to
5.1 General alleviate any unnecessary pain or distress. R R R
Operation does not withhold medical treatment
from a sick animal in order to preserve certification

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 status.
Treatment is also undertaken for non-ambulatory
livestock, even if the treatment causes the livestock
to lose its certified status or to be humanely
euthanized.

CT: Animals are not treated effectively or promptly

for injuries or sickness, or euthanized if necessary,
using humane euthanasia methods as described in
Euthanasia Section.
When recommended by a veterinarian or if
homeopathic, herbal, and other non-antibiotic
treatments are not available, antibiotics are used to
treat sick or injured animals.
5.2 Vaccines, Offspring cannot nurse on an animal that has been
R R R
Antibiotics & treated with antibiotics.
Growth Hormones Vaccines appropriate for the species and region are
optimized for prevention of disease.
Growth hormones or non-therapeutic use of
substances to induce heat are prohibited.
6. Slaughter/ Practice Description
Killing Bronze Silver Gold
All slaughter/killing systems need to be designed
and managed to ensure animals are not caused
unnecessary or intentional distress or discomfort
6.1 General before slaughter.
R R R
If slaughter does not occur on farm, approved ROC
third-party animal welfare audit records of the
slaughter facility must be provided.
Operations work to minimize the pre-slaughter
6.2 Pre-slaughter handling of animals. This includes but is not limited R R R
to handling animals without abuse, ensuring

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 animals have good traction on flooring and do not
slip or fall during unloading and movement around
the farm or plant, and have their view of the
slaughter floor obscured as to avoid any
unnecessary stress or discomfort.
If slaughter does not occur on farm, approved ROC
third-party animal welfare audit records of the
slaughter facility must be provided.
Slaughter is performed using stunning methods
that result in immediate insensitivity, such as a shot
to brain or penetrative bolt stunning followed by
6.3 Slaughter bleeding. Pre-shackle, multi-step controlled-
R R R
Methods atmosphere stunning may be used in poultry.
If slaughter does not occur on farm, approved ROC
third-party animal welfare audit records of the
slaughter facility must be provided.
Animals experiencing pain or suffering from which
they are unlikely to recover must be promptly
euthanized on the farm in a manner that renders
the animal immediately insensible to pain.
Prohibited euthanasia practices include:
- Suffocation
6.4 Euthanasia - Manual blow to head by blunt instrument or R R R
any manual blunt force trauma
- Use of equipment that crushes the neck (incl.
killing pliers or Burdizzo clamps)

CT: Euthanizing in a way that causes unnecessary

pain or suffering.
7. Transportation Practice Description Bronze Silver Gold
Animal transport systems are designed and
7.1 General R R R
managed to ensure animals are not subjected to

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 unnecessary distress or discomfort. Operations and
handlers have emergency plans in place that
address possible animal welfare problems that may
arise during transport.
If the producer does not control the transportation
of animals off-farm:
• Approved ROC third-party animal welfare
audit records must be provided for the
transport operator
OR
• The producer must keep records of all off-
farm transportation, including date of
transport, number of animals transported
and destination, type of vehicle and
company used, and transport time.
Food and water are not withdrawn for more than 12
hours prior to slaughter.
Transportation time from loading of first animal to
last animal unloading is less than 13 hours.
*Exceptions apply for transportation of breeding
stock when such livestock with desired genetics are
not located within maximum transport time
allowance.
7.2 Transport Time If the producer does not control the transportation R* R R
of animals off-farm:
• Approved ROC third-party animal welfare
audit records must be provided for the
transport operator
OR
• The producer must keep records of all off-
farm transportation, including date of
transport, number of animals transported

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 and destination, type of vehicle and
company used, and transport time.
8. Training & Practice Description
Personnel Bronze Silver Gold
Operations ensure that all employees working with
animals are trained on basic measures of animal
welfare and have the relevant and necessary skills
to perform their duties. Producers are thoroughly
R R R
8.1 Personnel trained, skilled, and competent in animal
husbandry, animal transport, slaughter, and have a
good working knowledge of their system and
animals under their care.

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IX. Appendix
Animal Welfare:

• Body Condition Score: A system of measuring how thin or fat an animal is by reference
to a standardized scale.

• Carrying Capacity: The average number of animals that can be rotationally grazed on a
given area of pasture for a year without harming it. It is a measure of a pasture’s ability to
produce enough forage to meet the requirements of grazing animals.

• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO): Concentrated Animal Feeding

Operations (CAFOs), as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are
agricultural operations where animals are kept and raised in confined situations. A CAFO
is a lot or facility (other than an aquatic animal production facility) where animals have
been, are, or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or
more in any 12-month period, and crops, vegetation, forage growth, or post-harvest
residues are not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the lot or
facility. The EPA provides specific thresholds by animal sector for small, medium, and
large CAFOs. For example, a large CAFO for beef cattle is defined as 1,000 or more
“animal units” confined for over 45 days a year.

• Commercial Livestock Operation: Animals are raised with the primary purpose of
generating a profit. Non-commercial animals are those that generally have functions
outside of or alongside profit, such as draught power, transport, manure production, or
for educational purposes. The Five Freedoms described below must be demonstrated
for all animals. Contact the ROA for additional guidance on determining if your livestock
operation is considered commercial under the ROC.

• Dehorning: Dehorning and routine trimming/tipping of horns are prohibited. The use of
polled breeds is recommended. Trimming of the horns is only permitted for medical
purposes when the health of the cow is negatively affected by their horn length (e.g.,
horn tips are rubbing the eyes) or when the length could negatively impact the welfare of
other animals, but this procedure must be performed by an experienced individual using
a method of low-stress handling and restraint along with adequate analgesic and
anesthetic pain control. Additionally, trimming must avoid the live innervated tissue
within the horns.

• Disbudding: Prohibited in calves over three weeks of age. Hot iron cauterization allowed
up to three weeks of age, which must be preceded and followed by administration of
appropriate anesthetic and analgesia to provide short- and long-term pain relief. The
procedure must be performed by an experienced individual using low stress handling
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 and restraint techniques (e.g., sedation, disbudding crate). Any other methods of
disbudding prohibited (e.g., caustic paste, scooping). The use of polled breeds is
recommended over disbudding practices. If ROC producers disbud, they must
demonstrate they are incorporating polled genetics via semen purchase for artificial
insemination, herd bull selection, or replacement cow purchase. Producers who are
disbudding must use polled genetics for breeding at least 20% of their cow herd year
over year or until their calves no longer require disbudding. If the producer is unable to
find suitable polled genetics, a record detailing efforts made to source the genetics and
why such efforts were unsuccessful must be made available to the inspector for review at
each inspection.

• Five Freedoms: The Animal Welfare module leverages the five freedoms for animal
welfare, which include:
1. Freedom from hunger or thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health
and vigor.
2. Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a
comfortable resting area.
3. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
4. Freedom to express normal behaviors by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and
company of the animal’s own kind.
5. Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment that avoid mental
suffering.

• Handling: The handling of animals covers the general treatment of animals during the
various tasks performed and requirements of an operation. To minimize stress, pain, and
suffering to an animal, ROC prohibits certain practices, such as prodding (jabbing of
animal with instrument), wattling (cutting chunks out of an animal’s hide to hang under
the animal’s neck), and dehorning (removal of horns).

• Mobile Harvesting Unit: A mobile harvest unit, or mobile slaughterhouse, enables

livestock and poultry farmers to slaughter their animals humanely on-site. This decreases
the exposure of animals to stressful and inhumane treatment at large scale slaughter
facilities.

• Monogastrics: Monogastric animals have a simple single-chambered stomach and

include dogs, pigs, horses, and rabbits. Their ability to extract energy from cellulose
digestion is less efficient than in ruminants, and therefore are permitted to feed on
grains.

• Non-Ambulatory Animals: Animals that cannot rise from a recumbent position or that
cannot walk, including, but not limited to, those with broken appendages, severed
tendons or ligaments, nerve paralysis, fractured vertebral column, or metabolic
conditions.

• Ruminants: Ruminant species include cud-chewing animals such as cows, goats, bison,

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 and sheep. Ruminants are designed to eat fibrous grasses, plants, and shrubs. A high-
grain diet may cause physical problems for ruminants. Additionally, when ruminants are
switched from pasture to grain, they can become afflicted with numerous disorders,
including a common but painful condition called “subacute acidosis.”

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