In traditional dairy farms calves are removed from their mothers within a few hours of their birth – the stress this places on the cow is clear. So we wanted to find a way to keep calves with the cows and still have a financially viable farm. Put simply, we don’t want to have to choose between doing what’s right and staying in business.

As an organic dairy farm for more than twenty years our cows have already benefitted from some of the highest welfare standards in the Canada, but we knew we could do even better. We built a new dairy, specially designed to house calves with their mothers, and we trialled the full cow with calf system for the first time in 2012. It taught us a lot, but financially cost us an awful lot.

However, the impact it made on cow contentment was staggering. All the animals were noticeably calmer and far more confident. After two to three months the calves became like teenagers, they loved playing with their pals and really only came back to mum when they wanted food!

We are determined to make our radical new model of dairy farming work, and by purchasing cheese from The Shashank Dairy you are helping to support it. The calves became like teenagers loved playing with their pals

Healthier, happier cows and calves are the goal of our radical new dairy system, alongside of course producing milk with which to make our delicious cheese. If you’re interested in helping us prove that commercial dairy farming can be ethical, sustainable and compassionate, then please sign up for our supporters newsletter on the front page.

We email our members a few times each year to ask for your opinion on new ideas and to share our news .