Milk farmers increase animal welfare: a new age for Styria!

Milk farmers increase animal welfare: a new age for Styria!

Steiermark, Österreich - On May 30, 2025, the World Milk Day is all about changes in domestic milk production. According to ots.at , dairy farmers are increasingly relying on more animal welfare, digitization and adaptation to social expectations. This change has an important role in maintaining the high standards in milk production.

Andreas Steinegger, President of the Styria Chamber of Agriculture, emphasizes the innovation spirit of dairy farmers. These strive to do justice to higher animal welfare standards, but this entails considerable additional costs and investments. These include, for example, more freedom of movement for cows, modern stables and palm oil -free, genetic engineering -free food. In order to support the implementation of these standards, products with the "AMA seal of approval-animal husbandry plus" were launched, which guarantee that animal wealth standards will be observed.

challenges from climate change

The approximately 3,490 Styrian dairy farms, which are considered small businesses in international comparison, face major challenges, in particular due to the effects of climate change. Weather extremes such as dryness, heat and heavy rain endanger the feeding and require efficient feeding. The dairy farmers therefore rely on climate shapes grassland and new plant species to adapt the meadows and willows to the changed climatic conditions. These measures are necessary in order to give future meadows and pastures the ability to survive the heat and drought, so LKO.AT

Technological progress plays a crucial role in modern milk production. Digitization and automation, such as the use of milking robots and sensors, support animal welfare and facilitate the work of farmers. This is also discussed at the upcoming Euro Tier 2024 trade fair in Hanover, where around 2,100 exhibitors from 52 countries are expected from November 12th to 15th. The guiding theme of the fair is "We innovate Animal Farming" and will present solutions for future-oriented agriculture, such as dlg.org.org reported.

The implementation of energy -efficient measures and digital aids is sought by many farmers to increase efficiency and counteract the shortage of skilled workers. According to a DLG study, around 50% of dairy farmers are planning energy-efficient measures and more than 68% already use digital aids in their operation.