Dairy Farmers of Canada Asking Farmers To Consider Alternatives To Palm Supplements

Mar 05, 2021

Dairy Farmers of Canada says it's listening attentively to the concerns expressed by consumers in recent weeks over the use of animal feed supplements containing palm by-products.

In light of these concerns, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) had previously announced the formation of a working group of experts to assess current scientific literature, identify gaps in information, and look into issues that have been raised by consumers.

Academics from different relevant areas along with sector experts will come together shortly to begin the work. DFC will also seek the views of consumers as part of this exercise.

In a news release, DFC says, "It is essential that decisions be made on a factual basis and that science guide our sector, hence the creation of a working group of experts. In the interim, DFC is asking dairy farmers to consider alternatives to palm supplements."

DFC stresses that all milk produced in Canada is as safe as always to consume and is subject to Canada’s robust health and safety standards.

The group notes that all animal feeds used on dairy farms are approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and are safe for animals.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.