TransformDairyNet: Revolutionising the Dairy Sector
A project promoting Cow-Calf Contact to foster practises that prioritise animal welfare
In June of 2024, the Horizon Europe project TransformDairyNet1 was launched, coordinated by University College Dublin, Ireland. This ambitious initiative aims to revolutionise the dairy industry by promoting Cow-Calf Contact (CCC) systems, fostering sustainable practices that prioritise animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and economic viability.
FOUR PAWS is proud to be the only NGO actively contributing to this transformative project, ensuring that animal welfare remains at the heart of the dairy sector’s evolution.
TransformDairyNet unites 26 European partners from 14 countries, including farmers, researchers and industry experts. Together, these stakeholders will mobilise 11 National Innovation Practice Hubs and a European Knowledge and Innovation Network. These networks connect dairy farmers, veterinarians, advisors, supply chain actors, farmer organisations, researchers, and policymakers to enhance and expand CCC systems across Europe.
Why Change is Needed
In traditional dairy systems, calves are separated from their mothers shortly after birth, which negatively impacts the welfare of both and raises ethical concerns.
TransformDairyNet supports farmers in transitioning to systems where calves can remain with their mothers or foster cows for an extended period. These systems promote natural behaviors, improve animal health and welfare, and align with society’s growing demand for sustainable and ethical food production.
Key Objectives
- Speed up CCC Adoption: Establish a European network to address farmers’ needs and knowledge gaps, enabling more farms to implement CCC systems.
- Share Evidence-Based Best Practices: Combine scientific research with practical experience to develop and disseminate best practices for CCC.
- Innovate through Living Labs: Use national hubs to trial and refine CCC practices tailored to farmers’ needs.
- Enhance Communication: Leverage digital tools to spread knowledge and build awareness about CCC systems.
- Ensure Lasting Impact: Collaborate with the EU FarmBook to ensure CCC knowledge is accessible beyond the project’s duration.
FOUR PAWS: Driving Animal Welfare in Dairy Farming
By advocating for CCC systems, FOUR PAWS strengthens its commitment to the Refine component of the 3R Principle — improving the welfare of animals within existing agricultural systems. While CCC does not replace dairy consumption, it represents a meaningful step toward ensuring that, where dairy is produced, it is done so under significantly higher welfare standards.
Alongside this, FOUR PAWS continues to advocate for reducing dairy consumption and replacing animal products with plant-based options wherever possible.
Looking Ahead: Transforming the Future of Dairy Farming
TransformDairyNet not only strives to revolutionise the dairy sector but also sets a example for scaling other innovative agricultural practices with strong societal demand. By addressing the ethical, environmental, and economic dimensions of dairy production, this project aims to establish CCC systems as the norm for European dairy farming.
FOUR PAWS is delighted to be part of this forward-thinking initiative, championing sustainable and animal-friendly practices to ensure a better future for animals, farmers, and society.
February 2025
FOUR PAWS hosted an online workshop with the Norwegian Veterinary Institute on Cow-Calf Contact labelling schemes to share knowledge and experience.
May 2025
FOUR PAWS presented the workshop outcomes at the first European Knowledge and Innovation Network (EKIN) meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece.
References:
1Working together to upscale Cow-Calf-Contact dairy systems, TransformDairyNet. [accessed 2025 Jan 28]. https://transformdairynet.eu/