Healthful Cows

HealthfulCows

View the 2023 Report

Healthful Cowsalways come first.

We take animal care extremely seriously, and we expect everyone we work with to practice excellent cow care. Whether a farm has 200 or 20,000 cows, our standards are rigorous, our expectations are clear and our philosophy is straightforward: healthful cows always come first.

Cow comfort is a high priority for all dairy farmers. The more comfortable cows are, the more production they have. And, overall, they’re healthier.

Kate Lott, DVM

Tillamook Director of Farm Engagement

Coming through for cows

A lot goes into keeping cows healthful. It starts with physical well-being, supervised by farmers and veterinarians. Then, it continues by providing a low-stress environment, handling cow herds humanely, and optimizing comfort and cleanliness. This is our standard no matter the size of the farm. No exceptions.

Farm standards

SETTING THE STANDARD. RAISING THE BAR.

Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) is a third-party program that sets high standards for cow care for the entire dairy industry.

100% of all milk used in Tillamook products came from suppliers who adhere to FARM, the industry-leading animal care standards.

Learn More About FARM

Dedicated to cows

We also require industry-wide animal welfare best practices to set a high bar for how every cow and every herd are treated. The “Five Freedoms” of good animal welfare, which are inspired by the World Organisation for Animal Health, ensure a humane environment for cows.

The 5 freedoms of good animal welfareThese globally recognized standards ensure a humane environment for all our cows.

Adequate food and water

Comfort and shelter

Proper handling

Prevention and treatment of disease and injury

Minimization of fear, stress and suffering

LEARN HOW WE COME THROUGH FOR COWS

Providing exceptional cow care is a never-ending job.

Providing a healthy diet

Dairy farmers work closely with animal nutritionists to optimize cow nutrition. While each herd may have different nutritional requirements, every cow’s diet consists of forages and grains to promote good health and milk production.

Keeping Cows Comfortable

Why is bedding so important for cow comfort? Watch to find out!

Watch Now

A Day in the Life of a Dairy Cow

Did you know that the average cow is milked 2-3 times a day for about 8 minutes each time? Learn more about the day in the life of a dairy cow!