The Guide advises dairy farmers on how to develop sustainable management systems. This has become a top priority as the social and environmental aspects of milk production are increasingly in the focus of consumers and producers.

Commenting on the Guide, Helen Dornom, Chair of the IDF/FAO Project Group said: “This Guide has been written in a practical format for dairy farmers engaged in the production of milk from any dairy species all over the world."

"It covers key aspects such as animal health, milk hygiene, nutrition, welfare, the environment and socio-economic management. These are essential tools to ensure that both the needs of the food industry and the expectations of consumers are met.”

The revised FAO/IDF reference document comprises a comprehensive tool kit to improve quality assurance at farm level, thereby enabling dairy farmers to better respond to market incentives, to add value and to adopt new farming methods.

IDF President Richard Doyle adds that: “It has always been a top priority for IDF to identify and disseminate best practice at international level, in order to guide and harmonize work on the many challenges and opportunities facing the dairy sector."

"This tangible result of our joint work with the FAO will support the production and marketing of safe, quality-assured milk and dairy products. I encourage every dairy farmer to adopt and use the Guide.”

The IDF/FAO Guide to Good Dairy Farming Practice can be downloaded for free as a pdf document from the websites of the FAO and IDF (www.fil-idf.org).