Animal welfare in milk production: what can farm data help us to understand?

An analysis of data from 326 Brazilian farms found an association between higher somatic cell counts (SCC) and lower animal welfare scores.

This article is part of the Regenerative Awakening column , a joint initiative of ESGpec and MilkPoint dedicated to exploring, based on scientific and applied principles, the paths to sustainability in milk production.

In the previous edition, we discussed the relationships between productive efficiency, economic performance, and carbon footprint . Now, we broaden this perspective to include the Social dimension of Sustainability, animal welfare, a central issue for this column: how to transform the information produced on the farm into decisions that help improve the production system?

The question takes on a concrete application when we look at indicators that are already part of the sector's routine. Besides guiding the monitoring of milk quality, could this information help identify situations that deserve greater attention to animal welfare?

Luiz Gustavo Ribeiro Pereira, Professor at the University of Copenhagen , presented the results from 326 Brazilian farms participating in the project developed by ESGpec with Alvoar Lácteos, selected for meeting animal welfare assessment standards and a consistent history of milk quality.

This scientific study stemmed from a broader corporate effort that encompassed 504 farms across five states. Alvoar mobilized its network of suppliers and teams, while ESGpec provided training, methodological coordination, technology provision, data processing and analysis, reporting, and technical support. The initiative included properties with varying structures, sizes, and production conditions.

The assessments were conducted using the BEA Score, a digital tool developed by ESGpec to support the diagnosis of animal welfare on dairy farms . The methodology considers five internationally recognized domains: environment, nutrition, health, behavior, and mental state. The collected information is transformed into specific scores for each domain and integrated into a global indicator. In this way, the tool allows visualization of both the overall performance of the property and the aspects that deserve greater attention, offering an objective basis for discussing improvement priorities with the technical team.

This approach makes a broad topic more concrete for management. By examining the different dimensions of well-being separately, the producer can identify opportunities and monitor the evolution of the conditions offered to the animals. The BEA Score is also available free of charge to producers participating in the Regenerative Awakening program , bringing this diagnostic possibility to other farms.

In the study presented at ADSA, 26 trained assessors used the BEA Score on 326 selected properties. The researchers investigated the relationship between assessment results and somatic cell count (SCC). The results showed a consistent pattern: as SCC increased, well-being scores decreased. This association was observed in virtually all domains assessed and was strongest in the health domain. Relevant associations were also found with nutrition and environment.

This trend can be seen in the graphs in Figure 1. Each axis represents one of the five domains assessed by the BEA Score. The larger the filled area, the better the average performance of the properties. The progressive contraction of this area, across the four CCS ranges, shows that the reduction is not limited to a single aspect of well-being.

Figure 1. Average profiles of the five domains of the BEA Score in the four somatic cell count ranges. The larger the filled area, the better the average performance of the properties. EMEN: mental state; COMP: behavior; AMBI: environment; SAUD: health; NUTR: nutrition. Source: ESGpec, based on the study presented at the ADSA Annual Meeting 2026.

This expands the usefulness of information already monitored by the sector. CCS can function as a sentinel indicator, that is, as an initial warning sign that helps identify properties where a more in-depth animal welfare assessment may be necessary.

This interpretation requires caution. The observed association does not, by itself, demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship. SCC also does not replace a comprehensive assessment of the animals' living conditions . Analyzed in conjunction with other indicators, it can help producers, technicians, and industries to better focus their attention.

For producers and technicians, one possible application is to better integrate available information. A high somatic cell count (SCC) can motivate a broader investigation , guided by the assessment of farm conditions and observation of the animals. The indicator helps to formulate questions; the diagnosis allows one to understand what needs to be done. This transition from numbers to practical guidance is crucial. Upon receiving an assessment, the producer needs to be able to identify which aspects deserve attention, which measures are priorities, and how to monitor their results.

A global score helps organize the analysis, but its components are essential for building the action plan. Two properties with similar results may have distinct needs . One may require greater attention to the environment; another, to management practices. The recommendation needs to consider these differences and the possibilities for implementation on each farm.

For technicians and dairies, analyzing a supplier network can also support the planning of training and visits. Recurring problems can guide collective actions, while specific needs require individual follow-up. The goal is to ensure that the evaluation effort translates into understandable and actionable priorities.

The work with Alvoar also progressed in communication. The company shared the scope of the diagnosis and educational content on animal welfare, bringing the project's learnings closer to producers and other people involved in the supply chain .

This feedback is part of value creation. Those who participate in an evaluation need to understand its purpose and recognize how the information can contribute to their own work. By sharing knowledge in an accessible way, the chain creates conditions to increase engagement with the proposed improvements.

Follow-up monitoring completes this process. The diagnosis records the starting point; actions seek to address the identified needs; reassessment allows for verification of changes and adjustment of the plan. Communicating progress requires preserving this link between what was assessed, what was done, and what has actually changed.

The results presented at the ADSA meeting show how data generated in the field can fuel scientific questions and produce knowledge that benefits the activity. Producers, technical teams, industry, technology companies, and researchers thus participate in the same process.

In the project with Alvoar, the corporate initiative organized the evaluation of a supplier network. The Regenerative Awakening expands access to ESGpec tools through the individual participation of the producer. With the BEA Score, the producer can learn about the animal welfare diagnosis of their own farm and use it to discuss opportunities for improvement with their technical assistance.

These are complementary ways of bringing sustainability closer to management . The experience of a production chain generates learnings that can reach other properties, while access to tools allows more producers to begin building their own diagnoses. It is this connection that we seek to strengthen in this column: science that helps interpret reality, technology that facilitates evaluation, and knowledge that supports decisions within the farm gate.

How to participate in the Regenerative Awakening

Dairy farmers can participate in the project for free and access the BEA Score , for animal welfare diagnosis, as well as tools for assessing the carbon footprint and ESG performance of their farms.

The initiative is carried out by ESGpec in partnership with MilkPoint and offers access to digital tools that help producers and technicians understand and improve the sustainability of production systems.

To participate, simply access Go to despertarregenerativo.com.br and register.

Access is individual, valid for 12 months, and includes email support throughout the entire period.

Learn about your farm's ESG indicators, find out how to improve them, and start your regenerative awakening today.