TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT We prioritise training for relevant Arla employees and external auditors involved in the animal welfare aspects of the Arlagården ® programme. EMPLOYEES In Arla, the teams involved in support and services to farmers are introduced to the requirements in Arlagården ® and the consequences when farmers are not compliant with these requirements. Assessing animal outcome measures is part of this training. In addition, we work with our teams to offer ad-hoc continuous professional development opportunities. Recent examples include: • 2023: A two-day course on Cow Signals © for the Arlagården ® team. The overall aim was to introduce and train members of the team to assess and discuss animal- based indicators and to discuss the consequences of good or poor animal welfare. 11 team members participated. • 2024: Employee training for Agriculture, Sustainability and Communications teams in Arla group on Arla Animal Welfare through a series of ‘Learning Hours’ with 80-100 participants per occasion. Topics in April and May included: ‘what is animal welfare and how to measure’ &’ animal-based indicators and animal welfare requirements in Arlagården ® ’. • Twice a year, Arlagården ® managers undertake on farm alignment which includes animal-based indicators. EXTERNAL ASSESSORS External auditors are trained and calibrated as follows: • Provided with training materials on the Arla animal-based welfare outcome measure scores • Trained by a lead auditor – Observed on farm and signed off by a lead auditor – Approved as an auditor by an Arlagården ® manager – Witnessed and moderated by the certification body and Arla – Tested on animal-based indicators using online and on farm measures at least annually – Annual alignment of all the lead auditors from the certification body FARMER OWNERS We leverage the knowledge and expertise of our own animal welfare experts as well as external experts to continually improve animal health and welfare knowledge and standards on Arla farms. In 2023, over 5,000 farmers took part in Knowledge Building events on animal robustness across seven countries. The key focus of the Robustness campaign was to discuss and implement actions on farm to decrease cow mortality. Within the Arlagården ® assessment there are example videos and images to help farmer accurately assess their herd’s welfare outcome measures regarding mobility, cleanliness, lesion & abrasions, and body condition score. Farmers also discuss animal welfare issues with vets on farm on a regular basis. A survey of farmers from 2020 showed that approximately 75 % of Arla farmer owners have a herd health plan. ANIMAL WELFARE AT ARLA 3
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