Our cow welfare
at WOERLE

Cow welfare icon from the Woerle cheese dairy
Happy Resi, Bella and Vroni! Cows love fresh grass, aromatic herbs and lots of exercise. You get that from our WOERLE hay milk farmers, where an average of 22 cows per farm are looked after. So there is time for every animal, whose health is always carefully monitored. The happier the cow, the better the cheese!

The cow in pasture happiness

Cow welfare is important to us. Hay milk cows are kept in a species-appropriate manner, have plenty of exercise and the best hay fodder. The subject of cow welfare is about how farmers treat their animals with respect. It doesn't take much to make cows happy. In return they give us the best they have: valuable hay milk.

Species-appropriate feeding
In summer our dairy cows feed on fresh herbs and grasses, in winter there is fragrant hay.
Fresh water
Our dairy cows always have access to clean, fresh water, both in the barn and in the field, which is always easily accessible and available in sufficient quantities.
Personalized support
The dairy farmer knows all his cows by name and their preferences. There is a relationship of trust between the farmer and the cow, which in turn promotes the well-being of the animal.
Exercise more than 120 days a year
Cows exercise at least 120 days a year. Depending on the season and weather conditions, our farmers' dairy cows spend a lot of time outdoors.
Average dairy cows in the barn
On average, our milk suppliers have 22 cows in the barn, which guarantees the animals freedom of movement.
High performance not required
Our dairy cows don't have to perform at their best. By adhering to the natural way of life, the amount of milk is of course variable.

Hay milk for more cow well-being

Feeling good means feeling good, enjoying, savoring. The cow welfare initiative is about the well-being of the cows. What does this cow welfare have to do with hay milk? Much! When we are doing really well, we speak of "feeling good". And animals want to feel good too.

Personal connection to the farmer

The personal bond with the farmer begins with the fact that he calls every cow by its name. There is a relationship of trust between the farmer and the cows, which in turn promotes the well-being of the animal. If the farmer has little contact with the cows, the animals “strange” them, which in turn puts them in stressful situations as soon as people approach. And stress promotes the formation of the stress hormone cortisol, which has a negative effect on the animal's immune system. A good relationship of trust between farmer and animal is also important when visiting the vet.

cow comfort
Our dairy farmers create comfortable conditions in the barn such as lying mats and cow mattresses, rubber mats, improving the climate in the barn, fighting flies, easy access to the feed or the optimal design of the walkways.
scratch brushes
Scratch brushes in the stables and outdoors increase the well-being of our dairy cows and also serve to clean the fur.
animal Health
Our dairy farmers are members of the animal health service, an association to ensure and improve the health, hygiene and thus economic conditions in livestock farming.
Homöopathie
We have been promoting homeopathy in the barn for several years and offer our farmers lectures and further training courses on homeopathic prevention and early detection as support.
Futter from Europa
Food only from Europe
In summer our hay milk cows feed on fresh grass and herbs, and in winter on dried hay. If feed is bought in, it comes from Europe.
GMO-free
Our dairy cows are guaranteed to receive GMO-free feed - an indispensable criterion for sustainable food production.

Hay milk cows are special gourmets

Cows are ruminants and eat up to 100 kg of grass a day. In summer they feed on juicy grasses and fresh herbs, in winter the species-rich summer food in dried form is on the menu. Fermented feedstuffs such as silage are strictly forbidden. This type of feeding is the most original and has been handed down for generations. And the cows thank you for this with a very special kind of milk, hay milk, from which the finest hay milk cheese specialties are made.

Learn more
Young cows in the barn - Käserei Woerle

Look into the stable

What cows need to be happy: light, good air, clean water and good food. In addition, they need enough space to rest. Cows need their own feeding and lying areas that are large enough to avoid arguments. Because cows form friendships and not all cows like each other. Since there are social hierarchies in a herd of cows, loose stalls should provide enough space for lower-ranking animals to avoid higher-ranking animals. Cow brushes in the stables increase the well-being of the animals and are also used for grooming.

No heat stress for cows

The comfortable temperature of the cows is between 4 and 16 degrees Celsius. Cows that give milk have a high metabolism. They give off the heat through the skin. Heat stress puts a strain on the cows and has negative consequences for the health of the animals. If animals are exposed to high temperatures or high humidity combined with decreasing air speed, they do not feel well.

Cows exercise at least 120 days a year. On particularly hot days, however, they prefer to stay in the stable. If the temperatures are too high, the farmer decides to let the animals into the barn at midday or switches straight to night pasture. Good barn ventilation in summer is therefore important.