NEW ERA - Animal welfare on the global agenda for milk sustainability

This article was published in the "Integral Sustainability" column of Issue 204 of Leite Integral Magazine - click to access the full issue.

Animal welfare is undergoing a silent yet profound transformation on a global scale. A concept that, for a long time, was primarily associated with ethics, consumer perception, and institutional communication has moved to the center of regulatory agendas, corporate commitments, and market demands. This new positioning is clearly evident in the discussions consolidated in the IDF Dairy Cattle Welfare Forum: Key Insights , published in January 2026 by the International Dairy Federation , which brings together technical and strategic lessons learned from the Global Animal Welfare Forum held in Santiago, Chile, in October 2025.

Reading this material reveals that the international debate no longer revolves around "whether" animal welfare matters, but rather "how" to structure viable, scalable programs that adhere to the diversity of existing production systems. It is at this point that the topic ceases to be peripheral and becomes part of the core discussions on competitiveness, market access, and the social legitimacy of dairy production.

This movement resonates with the spirit of " Novo Tempo" (New Time ) by Ivan Lins, a recurring theme throughout this column. The song speaks less of promises and more of navigating complex phases with attention, maturity, and responsibility. Just as in the song, the discussion about animal welfare practices has reached a point where growing, adapting, and making decisions are no longer options but part of the journey.

At the same time, this new era is already beginning to be interpreted through Brazilian data generated in the field. Structured animal welfare assessments conducted in different regions of the country help translate the global debate into the reality of farms, revealing progress, challenges, and concrete priorities. This article is based on this combination of international references and national data.

The international debate no longer revolves around "whether" animal welfare matters, but rather "how" to structure viable, scalable programs that adhere to the diversity of existing production systems.

Expectations are growing faster than the capacity to adapt.

One of the most recurring points of debate at the IDF was the speed at which regulatory and market expectations are evolving. Animal welfare projects need to keep pace with this rhythm, being able to adapt to new demands without losing technical coherence. The Forum's message was clear: rigid models, designed generically or disconnected from production conditions, tend to generate resistance to adoption and, consequently, have low effectiveness.

In contrast, successful experiences have been those comprised of clear frameworks [1] of good conduct, combined with flexible evaluation mechanisms and a focus on continuous improvement on the part of producers. More than just meeting requirements, it is about building possible paths of progress within the diversity of production configurations, and which also meet the desires of the various parties that make up the dairy sector.

The main challenge is not technical, it's about acceptance.

It is becoming increasingly evident that the main challenge to adopting good animal welfare practices is not technical, but human. Producer buy-in remains a decisive factor in the success of any animal welfare program. "Buying into the idea" depends on seeing practical value, consistency with daily management practices, and compatibility with the economic viability of the farms.

At the same time, there is constant tension between regulatory guidelines, demands from civil society organizations, consumer pressure, and what is actually implemented on rural properties. Programs built without dialogue with producers tend to fail, regardless of the technical quality of their criteria. The Forum reinforced that animal welfare needs to be built with producers , and not just with them. for him

Climate, heat stress, and well-being all come together in the same conversation.

A modern theme that further amplifies this complexity is global warming, and with it, climate change. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme events exerts additional pressure on classic animal welfare issues, such as thermal comfort, behavior, and nutrition. Heat stress and forage production, for example, cease to be isolated issues and become structural adversities in many regions.

In this scenario, animal welfare ceases to be merely a matter of management and becomes directly related to the resilience of production systems. Isolated solutions lose effectiveness, and the discussion begins to demand integrated approaches that include management, infrastructure, genetics, and agricultural and production planning.

Different countries, surprisingly similar issues.

Despite differences between countries and production models, the Forum discussions highlighted that issues related to animal welfare are surprisingly similar in distinct socioeconomic contexts. Experiences from Australia, Canada, and Mexico, whether in initiatives led by governments, industries, or producer associations, reveal commonalities that help explain the success of initiatives in these countries.

These points include the existence of clear frameworks of recommended methods, indicators aligned with the five domains of animal welfare, transparent reporting, engagement of multiple stakeholders, and consistent data collection over time. The governance method varies among model programs, but the logic of construction is convergent.

Animal welfare, sustainability and milk quality

Another central aspect of the debate was the growing integration between animal welfare, sustainability, and milk quality. Just as product quality has been continuously monitored for decades, animal welfare is beginning to be incorporated as part of broader approaches to evaluating farm performance.

This connection creates a concrete basis for economic incentives, market differentiation, and recognition of the efforts made by producers and technicians. Animal welfare ceases to be perceived merely as a cost or external requirement and begins to occupy a strategic place in the management of dairy farming. (Figure 1)

Figure 1 - Integration between animal welfare and sustainability in dairy farming

What field readings in Brazil already indicate.

This movement integrating animal welfare, sustainability, and milk quality is not limited to the international sphere. These elements are already appearing in fieldwork conducted in Brazil, based on structured animal welfare diagnoses in different production systems. One example is the survey conducted using the BEA Score , a tool developed by ESGpec, which consolidated the results of more than 800 farms distributed across 11 Brazilian states , reflecting a wide diversity of production environments. A significant portion of these assessments was carried out within the context of projects developed in partnership with Alvoar Lácteos , the Educampo Program of SEBRAE Minas Gerais , and Rurale , among other initiatives, connecting technical diagnosis, production management, and continuous improvement.

The aggregated analysis of this data allows us to observe how the different domains of animal welfare are expressed. The Environment domain shows, on average, a level of compliance with 78% of the gold standard criteria, reflecting good management in aspects such as facilities, comfort, and thermal stress. Nutrition comes next, with 73% of the good practice criteria being adopted , which shows care for the herd's diet.

The mental state of animals, a domain that assesses human-animal relationships and the positivity of experiences, shows an average index of 70% . The Behavior and Health domains, however, present the greatest challenges, with 67% and 59% meeting the gold standard, respectively, indicating significant room for improvement in these areas. (Figure 2)

Figure 2 - Average performance of animal welfare domains on the evaluated farms

The analysis of this data reinforces one of the central messages of the IDF Forum: animal welfare is not a single attribute, but the result of a balance between multiple factors. Moving forward requires a systemic view, technical prioritization, and proposals capable of guiding continuous improvement, without losing sight of the operational reality of farms and the availability of human and financial resources.

Capacity building, technology, and governance as pillars of progress.

For this progress to occur on a large scale, training technicians and producers is key. Training people capable of applying best practices, interpreting indicators, and adjusting management practices in different scenarios is essential for consolidating animal welfare programs. In many contexts, the scarcity of qualified professionals makes the design of simple and applicable approaches even more critical.

These methodologies must be supported by technology, which the IDF report points to as a structuring factor for continuous improvement and benchmarking. Digital data collection, evaluation, and monitoring systems allow field observations to be transformed into organized information, facilitating decision-making, collective learning, and communication throughout the production chain.

Animal welfare is not a single attribute, but the result of a balance between multiple factors. Progress requires a systemic view, technical prioritization, and proposals capable of guiding continuous improvement, without losing sight of the operational reality of farms and...

The availability of human and financial resources .

Finally, even though the governance of animal welfare implementation arrangements varies between regions, industries, governments, and producers, it needs to be aligned. Fragmented actions tend to generate overlapping requirements, operational confusion, and loss of trust. The most promising path seems to be one that seeks coordination, clarity of objectives, and the joint construction of solutions for the large-scale adoption of best animal welfare practices.

The message left by the IDF Forum

The IDF Global Animal Welfare Forum emphasizes that the future of the sector will not be defined by isolated requirements or the proliferation of protocols disconnected from operational reality. The key lies in our ability to build integrated, data-driven systems with clear governance and ongoing dialogue with people in rural areas.

Animal welfare, previously seen as an external requirement, is consolidating itself as a structuring part of sustainability, resilience, and long-term competitiveness. As Novo Tempo suggests , it is not about denying the inherent barriers to this process, but about recognizing that this is a moment of maturation for the entire chain. It is time to move forward supported by conscious choices, collective construction, and solutions capable of transforming principles into everyday procedures .

[1] Frameworks : conceptual structures that organize principles, criteria and indicators to guide activities, evaluation and decision-making in a consistent manner across different contexts and actors.

Authors

Bruna Silper - Veterinarian, specialist in precision livestock farming and sustainable solutions, PhD in Animal Science and dairy farmer in Minas Gerais, CEO of ESGpec.

Heloise Duarte - Veterinarian, specialist in Agroindustrial Management and beef producer in MG, COO of ESGpec.

Luiz Gustavo Pereira – Veterinarian, professor and researcher, PhD in Animal Science, specialist in nutrition and regenerative systems.

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The "Integral Sustainability" column is a column published by ESGpec in Leite Integral magazine , which has established itself as a space for dialogue between science, innovation, and practice in the field. Each article invites reflection on the future of dairy farming and on how we can balance productivity, animal welfare, and environmental responsibility.

Check out all the columns published in the magazine:

1️⃣ The wind of change — a call to recognize that the time for sustainability has arrived and that agriculture needs to act now.

2️⃣ Modern times — practical and technological solutions to reduce methane emissions in livestock farming.

3️⃣ Beyond the horizon — a vision of how innovation and regeneration open new paths for the milk of the future.

4️⃣ Simple way — how each producer's choice can transform livestock farming, making ESG something accessible and real in the field.

5️⃣ Nothing is by chance — animal behavior and welfare: The science applied to sustainable dairy production.

6️⃣ COP30: Time doesn't stop — What is the role of livestock farming on a planet under pressure?

7️⃣ COP30: We'll need everyone — What the world's largest climate conference revealed for Brazilian milk and why the next decade demands data, transparency, and real implementation in the field.

8️⃣ FROM JANUARY TO JANUARY: Sustainability starts with the basics — This article shows how consistent decisions, from the herd to the soil, reduce emissions and increase efficiency in milk production.

9️⃣ "Those Who Know How, Make the Time" - The International Year of Women in Agriculture and ESG Beyond Carbon — This article discusses why the future of dairy farming depends not only on environmental metrics, and why ESG needs to go beyond carbon to generate real resilience.

🔟 NEW ERA - Animal welfare on the global milk sustainability agenda — This article discusses why animal welfare has ceased to be peripheral and has become an integral part of milk sustainability.

🌿 This column is the result of a partnership between ESGpec and Revista Leite Integral , and reinforces our commitment to making sustainability a practical, measurable, and inspiring topic.