ANIMAL WELFARE
- Responsible Sourcing
- Overview
- Animal welfare
- Partnerships
- Supply Chain
Our position as a global leader in dairy processing comes with responsibility, and we use it to promote animal care and appropriate dairy cattle and goat handling practices.
We have a Zero Tolerance Policy for any act of animal cruelty. We ensure compliance with our animal care standards through industry regulations and Codes of Practice, routine supplier management practices, and awareness and training programs. We have established a clear protocol to work with suppliers and authorities to effectively deal with situations where a breach of the Animal Welfare Policy is suspected.
We expect all milk producers to comply with recognized standards validated by third-party animal welfare audit. On the issue of pain relief, we expect our suppliers to eliminate or modify routine Management Practices that are unnecessary or cause pain. These include the practice of tail docking cattle and the use of pain control when dehorning or disbudding cattle. We expect our suppliers to implement appropriate Animal Care Awareness and Training programs including a mandatory animal care Code of Conduct that is reviewed annually.
Animal Welfare Committee
Our global Animal Welfare Committee oversees compliance to our standards, with members representing each country where we have operations. Led by Dr. Warren Skippon, our Director of Animal Welfare, the Animal Welfare Committee is comprised of Saputo internal senior leaders from Governmental Affairs, Milk Procurement, and Sales. This Committee enables us to stay at the forefront of animal welfare best practices.
As part of applying our Animal Welfare Policy, the committee consults animal protection agencies, humane societies, governmental authorities, suppliers, customers and also works with animal welfare experts from universities and veterinary colleges.
Appointed in 2015, Dr. Skippon brings to Saputo a wealth of experience in the field of animal welfare. He is formerly of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), where he managed the National Issues and Animal Welfare programs. While at the CVMA, Dr. Skippon also led the development of the CVMA Antimicrobial Prudent Use Guidelines for food animals (2009) and companion animals (ongoing). His experience includes 15 years as a large animal veterinarian practitioner (1989-2006) with specific interest in dairy herd health management, quality milk production, reproduction and ultrasound.
Sustainable Development Finalist at the Mercuriades Awards
In recognition of our Animal Welfare Policy, in 2016, Saputo was selected as a finalist in the Sustainable Development category at the Mercuriades Awards, held by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec. We are proud of this nomination, which rewards a company with remarkable or unique sustainable development commitment and achievements in its industry sector.
We have a Zero Tolerance Policy for any act of animal cruelty. We ensure compliance with our animal care standards through industry regulations and Codes of Practice, routine supplier management practices, and awareness and training programs. We have established a clear protocol to work with suppliers and authorities to effectively deal with situations where a breach of the Animal Welfare Policy is suspected.
We expect all milk producers to comply with recognized standards validated by third-party animal welfare audit. On the issue of pain relief, we expect our suppliers to eliminate or modify routine Management Practices that are unnecessary or cause pain. These include the practice of tail docking cattle and the use of pain control when dehorning or disbudding cattle. We expect our suppliers to implement appropriate Animal Care Awareness and Training programs including a mandatory animal care Code of Conduct that is reviewed annually.
Animal Welfare Committee
Our global Animal Welfare Committee oversees compliance to our standards, with members representing each country where we have operations. Led by Dr. Warren Skippon, our Director of Animal Welfare, the Animal Welfare Committee is comprised of Saputo internal senior leaders from Governmental Affairs, Milk Procurement, and Sales. This Committee enables us to stay at the forefront of animal welfare best practices.
As part of applying our Animal Welfare Policy, the committee consults animal protection agencies, humane societies, governmental authorities, suppliers, customers and also works with animal welfare experts from universities and veterinary colleges.
Appointed in 2015, Dr. Skippon brings to Saputo a wealth of experience in the field of animal welfare. He is formerly of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), where he managed the National Issues and Animal Welfare programs. While at the CVMA, Dr. Skippon also led the development of the CVMA Antimicrobial Prudent Use Guidelines for food animals (2009) and companion animals (ongoing). His experience includes 15 years as a large animal veterinarian practitioner (1989-2006) with specific interest in dairy herd health management, quality milk production, reproduction and ultrasound.
Sustainable Development Finalist at the Mercuriades Awards
In recognition of our Animal Welfare Policy, in 2016, Saputo was selected as a finalist in the Sustainable Development category at the Mercuriades Awards, held by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec. We are proud of this nomination, which rewards a company with remarkable or unique sustainable development commitment and achievements in its industry sector.
