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7. Those responsible for the management of the farm should ensure that the cattle are cared for by sufficient, well-motivated and competent stockmen. Any contract or casual labour used in periods of increased workload should be trained and competent in the relevant activity. All should handle cattle compassionately and in a humane manner (paragraph 56).
8. The provision of the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 requiring the stockman to inspect dairy cattle thoroughly at least once a day to check their welfare is a helpful legal minimum. However, all lactating dairy cows and those near to calving should be inspected at least twice each day and the cattle welfare code should be amended accordingly (paragraph 61).
9. Each herd should have a written health and welfare programme produced, where necessary, with expert advice. This should set out health and husbandry activities covering the whole of the yearly cycle of production. The programme should be reviewed and updated annually by the farmer and should be available for inspection by enforcement authorities (paragraph 62).
10. As a minimum, dairy producers should keep records of all incidents of mastitis, lameness and metabolic disorders and the relevant treatments. Full production records, which include milk yields and dates of bulling, service and calving, should also be kept. These are in addition to statutory requirements (paragraph 63).