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FEED AND WATER

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Key – Those standards which have greater significance (all other standards are normal)

Recommendation – Those which do not affect certification

New – A completely new standard which the member must now adhere to

Revised – A standard that has changed and requires the member to take some different or additional action to before

Upgraded – The standard has been upgraded to a Key standard or from a Recommendation to a full standard

Appendix – Referenced in ‘How you will be measured’. Indicates that additional information is provided in the Appendices, which are available at the end of each section.

This icon indicates that a record is required.

Where to find help – at the end of each section we have indicated where you can get extra guidance if you need it.

Aim:

FEED AND WATER

DR.FW.1 Key

Standards

Livestock must be provided with sufficient feed to maintain rumen function and suitable to the production status and body condition of the animal

How you will be measured

DR.FW.1.b

No unmanaged welfare outcomes in relation to Body Condition Score of milking herd

DR.FW.1.c

Systems in place to ensure nutritional needs are met: - either regular documented body condition scoring or - documented feed plan for the milking herd plus documented feed plans for dry cows, heifers and calves Feed plans available and reviewed twice a year, updated as required and kept for 2 years.
  • BCS Sheets
  • Feed Plan

DR.FW.1.1

Standards

A system is in place to ensure newborn calves/lambs/kids receive sufficient, suitable colostrum as soon as possible after birth but definitely within 6 hours (Revised)

How you will be measured

DR.FW.1.1.b

Alternative sources of colostrum (fresh/frozen/artificial) are available in the event of the dam not being able to produce

DR.FW.1.2

Standards

Colostrum or milk from Johne’s positive cows must not be fed to dairy or beef breeding stock

How you will be measured

DR.FW.1.2.a

Detail contained within colostrum policy in herd health plan including alternative provision e.g. frozen colostrum from clean cows/powdered colostrum

DR.FW.1.2.b

ID of known Johne’s positive animals recorded and available

DR.FW.1.3

Standards

It is recommended that milk (excluding colostrum) from cows under the statutory withdrawal period for antibiotics is not fed to youngstock

DR.FW.1.4

Standards

It is recommended that quality of colostrum is tested

How you will be measured

DR.FW.1.4.a

Tested in accordance with AHDB guidance

DR.FW.2

Standards

All livestock must be provided with sufficient access to feed

How you will be measured

DR.FW.2.a

There is enough feeding space per animal - dependent on the system of feeding See Appendix for recommended space allowances.

DR.FW.2.1

Standards

Feeding systems inc. automatic feeders are checked at least daily to ensure they are working and clean

DR.FW.3 Key

Standards

All livestock must be provided with adequate access to a supply of fresh, clean drinking water (Revised)

How you will be measured

DR.FW.3.a

The water supply is sufficient to cover times of peak demand e.g. during hot weather/lactation and there is sufficient trough space/drinkers for the number of livestock (10% of the herd can drink at any one time)

DR.FW.3.b

Water is easily accessible to livestock and troughs do not obstruct walkways and feeding areas and do not have the potential to cause injury to livestock

DR.FW.3.c

Water troughs are kept clean

DR.FW.3.d

Provision is made to ensure an emergency supply of suitable drinking water can be supplied if normal supplies were to fail

DR.FW.4 Key

Standards

Feed must be suitable

How you will be measured

DR.FW.4.a

Feed is not stale or contaminated

DR.FW.4.b

Only feed materials and additives permitted by the Scheme and UK law are used

DR.FW.4.c

The composition of all purchased and home mixed feed is known

DR.FW.4.d

Materials produced by Anaerobic Digesters are prohibited for animal feed

DR.FW.4.e

Injurious weeds (e.g. ragwort) that livestock have access to are controlled

DR.FW.4.f

No non-permitted materials are used specifically: - no antibiotic or hormonal growth promoters - no animal products or by-products (mammalian, avian or fish) with the exception of fish oils and milk products - no rejected food that contain meats or have been in contact with meat (including bakery) - no catering waste, including used cooking oils

DR.FW.4.1

Standards

It is recommended that regular body condition scoring is undertaken

How you will be measured

DR.FW.4.1.a

Scoring conducted in accordance with AHDB guidelines for milking herd. Results are kept and form part of the health and performance review.

BCS sheets

DR.FW.5

Standards

Bought-in feed must be from an assured source or in specific circumstances with a warranty declaration

How you will be measured

DR.FW.5.a

Compounds and blended feed are UFAS assured, or equivalent

DR.FW.5.b

Bagged or sealed compounded or blended feed, minerals, mineral blocks/licks (except for rock salt), supplements and milk replacers are sourced from a UFAS merchant or from a non-UFAS merchant by a UFAS, or equivalent, compounder

DR.FW.5.c

Straights from a merchant, processed food by-products and co-products from the biofuels industry are UFAS, FEMAS, or equivalent.

DR.FW.5.d

The following materials are sourced with a completed warranty declaration: - farm-to-farm supplies of any feeds unexpectedly in surplus - hay and/or silage supplied via forage merchants - roots and vegetable/fruit which have not been processed beyond basic grading and washing

Warranty declaration

DR.FW.5.1

Standards

When sourcing cereals, fruit or vegetables from another farm it is recommended that the supplying farm is a member of a farm assurance scheme

How you will be measured

DR.FW.5.1.a

Cereals from an assured combinable crops farm accompanied by a grain passport

DR.FW.5.1.b

Fruit and vegetables from an assured fresh produce farm accompanied by a warranty declaration

DR.FW.6

Standards

Records of all feedstuffs purchased must be kept

How you will be measured

DR.FW.6.a

Feed records detail: - supplier name - feed type including ingredient composition - date of delivery - quantity - load or batch number

DR.FW.6.b

Records are kept for 2 years

Feed delivery documents/ invoices/ warranty declarations/ grain passports/ own records

DR.FW.7

Standards

When mixing two or more feed materials together records must be kept

How you will be measured

DR.FW.7.a

For total mixed rations (TMR) that incorporate forages or moist feeds produced on a daily basis, produce a record of the ingredients and quantities and update it when the mix changes

DR.FW.7.b

For home mixed compounds, meals or blends based on dry feed ingredients records of every batch mixed are kept detailing ingredients, quantities, mixing dates

Home-mixing records

DR.FW.8

Standards

When the mix formulation changes samples must be kept

How you will be measured

DR.FW.8.a

Samples of dry feed ingredients (over 3% inclusion) are kept

DR.FW.8.b

For dry mixes, samples of finished feed mix are kept

DR.FW.8.c

Samples are kept for a minimum of four weeks after last use

DR.FW.8.d

Samples are: - representative (small samples from several different points) - of adequate quantity (approx. 0.5 kg) - free from contamination - identifiable (labelled with feed details and date) - stored in a cool, dry area

DR.FW.9

Standards

If mixing using ‘pre-mixtures’, ‘additives’ or medicated feeds you must have Local Authority approval and meet any associated obligations

How you will be measured

DR.FW.9.a

The site has Local Authority Approval

DR.FW.9.b

There is a HACCP system in place

DR.FW.9.c

There is a Quality Control Plan in place

DR.FW.9.d

Additional approval from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is in place if medicated feeds are being incorporated
  • Local authority approval
  • HACCP
  • Quality Control Plan
  • VMD approval

DR.FW.10

Standards

Mobile feed mixing contractors must be suitably certified

How you will be measured

DR.FW.10.a

Contractors certified to the NAAC Assured Land-Based Contractor Mobile Feed Mixing and Processing scheme, or scheme deemed equivalent by Red Tractor

Contractor's NAAC registration number

DR.FW.11

Standards

All feeding and mixing equipment and lorries/trailers/feed boxes/buckets used for transporting feed are maintained in a clean condition and are suitable for purpose

DR.FW.12 Key

Standards

Feed must be stored in a manner which minimises the risk of contamination

How you will be measured

DR.FW.12.a

Storage facilities protect against feed contamination by domestic animals, wildlife and vermin

DR.FW.12.b

Storage facilities for dry feed are weatherproof

DR.FW.12.c

In loose feed storage areas lighting is covered unless shatterproof bulbs are used

DR.FW.12.d

Risk of cross-contamination is minimised by ensuring feed is readily identifiable and keeping different feeds separate
  • FW.1.b – The member is aware of outcomes, the incidence within the herd and any issues identified are actively managed. See Appendix
  • FW.3 – Emergency water supply is an alternative source of water i.e. tankers, fire service, natural etc.
  • FW.5 – Details of equivalent schemes are given in the relevant Appendix. Red Tractor warranty declaration template provides details of what information should be included.
  • FW.7 – Forage only, (forage top-dressed with concentrates) or single feeds mixed with water do not require records
  • FW.9 – Not applicable to the inclusion of bought in mineral feeding stuffs (labelled as such) used in TMRs. Feed additives are substances such as vitamins, trace elements (e.g. copper and zinc) and preservatives. Pre-mixtures are mixtures of additives at high concentrations