Dancing ‘cows’ launch campaign to make European cows happy

Jul 4, 2012

The Supporting Better Dairy campaign launched at the end of June with ‘cow stunts’ in Brussels and London. Dancing ‘cows’ surprised commuters in a flash mob at Kings Cross station, while over in Brussels, 27 ‘cows’ (one for each European member state) paraded in front of the European Commission.

The campaign is calling for new legislation to improve standards for Europe’s 23 million dairy cows.  Specific EU regulations already safeguard other farm animals, but dairy cows have no such protection, meaning that welfare standards vary greatly across the EU, with some suffering from poor health, inadequate housing and lack of access to pasture.

Supporting Better Dairy hopes to raise the bar by introducing basic standard EU-wide legislation.

Suzi Morris, UK Director of the World Society for the Protection of Animals explained:

“We cannot assume that the needs of dairy cows are being put first, so the EU must take the lead and ensure that cows do not suffer. We need tougher laws to prevent vast numbers of European cows from suffering painful mastitis, debilitating lameness, infertility and drastically reduced lifespans - all tragic consequences of keeping cows in poor conditions.”

WSPA, Ben & Jerry’s and Compassion in World Farming share a concern for the health and wellbeing of dairy cows. In 2003, Ben & Jerry’s launched their Caring Dairy programme to help establish sustainable dairy standards ensuring a better life for their herds.

WSPA’s Not in my Cuppa campaign joined forces with Compassion in World Farming and other groups to fight against proposals for the UK’s first mega dairy – which planned to house 8,000 cows permanently indoors.

Watch our dancing cow flash mob: