Müller develops animal welfare premium

Müller Milk & Ingredients, the UK's largest milk supplier and part of the German Müller group, has developed an animal welfare premium for 2020. The farmers who will supply milk under 'Müller Direct Premium' will earn 1 pence per liter extra: €0,01 per liter of milk.

The UK dairy farmers currently supplying under the concept 'Müller Direct' will have the opportunity to earn €2020 extra per liter from 0,01 onwards. In the coming year, dairy farmers will be able to join 'Müller Direct Premium 2020', a concept in which the health and well-being of the livestock comes first. Earlier this year, the dairy also introduced a fixed price contract.

Meet the requirements package
In order to participate in this concept, four (strict) requirements must be met. The first, and also the most important, requirement is that the euthanization of healthy bull calves must be completed by December 2020 at the latest, Müller writes in a press release. If that is not possible, this may only be done by a recognized veterinarian. In addition, the use of antibiotics must be reduced or completely rejected.

A third requirement is that dairy farms that want to participate in 'Müller Direct Premium 2020' must have a so-called 'Farm Insight' study carried out. In that study, health and well-being at the farm is assessed. Finally, it is imperative that participating dairies operate through the National Johne's Management Plan, which aims to control and eradicate Johne's chronic disease.

Payment in January 2021
Rob Hutchison, director of milk supply at Müller Milk & Ingredients, states in the statement that the premium will be paid in January 2021. This is because it must be checked whether the requirements have been met. "For a dairy farmer producing 2 million litres, it could be £20.000," writes Hutchison. Converted it comes to € 23.000. “Aside from the financial gain, farmers will benefit from potential improvements in the health and well-being of their herds,” Hutchison said.

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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