From 1 June, DMK Group and Arla Foods have merged. Read the press release
THE COWS

Where delicious dairy begins

Your dairy goodness starts with healthy cows. They’re led by our farmer owners’ caring hands and science-based methods. They ensure the milk in your supermarket fridge is high quality through a holistic approach to animal welfare and farm standards. It’s an approach brought to life through our farm management programme, Arlagården®.

Caring for cows

Cow care is part of everyday life on a dairy farm. Arlagården®, our farm quality assurance programme, sets requirements for areas including animal health, housing, feed, water and hygiene. These include clean and comfortable resting areas. Depending on the farm, cows may also have access to outdoor spaces, waterbeds or automated cow brushes – because sometimes a good scratch hits the spot.

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Giving cows the best care

How antibiotics are used

Just like people, cows can become ill and may need treatment. Arla cows only receive antibiotics when needed to treat illness, never as a preventative measure. If a cow is treated with antibiotics, it is withdrawn from the regular milk supply during the required withdrawal period. All milk is tested several times for antibiotic residues, and if residues are detected, the milk is discarded. Supporting cow health through good farm management remains an important part of everyday cow care.

Responsible with antibiotics

Feeding our cows

Cows can digest fibrous feeds such as grass and silage that people generally don’t eat and turn the nutrients into milk. Pretty remarkable, if you ask us! Feed also plays an important role in cow health and nutrition. Many Arla farmer owners grow feed on their own farms, while some participate in trials exploring different feed practices and technologies. These trials collect data on how feed choices relate to factors such as farm emissions, cow health and milk production*.

Feeding our cows

*Read more in our Climate Transition Plan.