TransformDairyNet: Revolutionizing the Dairy Sector

A project promoting Cow-Calf Contact to foster practices that prioritize animal welfare

2/14/2025

In June of 2024, the Horizon Europe project TransformDairyNet¹ was launched, coordinated by University College Dublin, Ireland. This ambitious initiative aims to revolutionize the dairy industry by promoting Cow-Calf Contact (CCC) systems, fostering sustainable practices that prioritize animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and economic viability.

FOUR PAWS is proud to be the only NGO actively contributing to this transformative project, ensuring that animal welfare remains at the heart of the dairy sector’s evolution.

TransformDairyNet unites 26 European partners from 14 countries, including farmers, researchers and industry experts. Together, these stakeholders will mobilize 11 National Innovation Practice Hubs and a European Knowledge and Innovation Network. These networks connect dairy farmers, veterinarians, advisors, supply chain actors, farmer organizations, researchers, and policymakers to enhance and expand CCC systems across Europe.

Why Change is Needed

The dairy sector is undergoing a critical transformation towards more sustainable, net-zero, and high-welfare food production. In traditional dairy systems, calves are separated from their mothers shortly after birth, which negatively impacts the welfare of both and raises ethical concerns.

TransformDairyNet supports farmers in transitioning to systems where calves can remain with their mothers or foster cows for an extended period. These systems promote natural behaviors, improve animal health and welfare, and align with society’s growing demand for sustainable and ethical food production.

Speed up CCC Adoption: Establish a European network to address farmers’ needs and knowledge gaps, enabling more farms to implement CCC systems.
Share Evidence-Based Best Practices:  Combine scientific research with practical experience to develop and disseminate best practices for CCC.
Innovate through Living Labs: Use national hubs to trial and refine CCC practices tailored to farmers’ needs.
Enhance Communication: Leverage digital tools to spread knowledge and build awareness about CCC systems.
Ensure Lasting Impact: Collaborate with the EU FarmBook to ensure CCC knowledge is accessible beyond the project’s duration.

FOUR PAWS: Driving Animal Welfare in Dairy Farming

FOUR PAWS plays a pivotal role in TransformDairyNet, ensuring that animal welfare considerations remain central to the project’s mission. By advocating for CCC systems, FOUR PAWS helps create a future where ethical practices become the standard in dairy farming.

This aligns with the organization’s commitment to the 3R Principle:

Reduce the consumption of animal products.
Refine diets by choosing products from certified animal-friendly farming.
Replace animal products with plant-based alternatives.

Through the 3R principle, FOUR PAWS inspires individuals and industries to make sustainable choices for the benefit of animals and the environment.

Looking Ahead: Transforming the Future of Dairy Farming

TransformDairyNet not only strives to revolutionize the dairy sector but also sets a example for scaling other innovative agricultural practices with strong societal demand. By addressing the ethical, environmental, and economic dimensions of dairy production, this project aims to establish CCC systems as the norm for European dairy farming.

FOUR PAWS is delighted to be part of this forward-thinking initiative, championing sustainable and animal-friendly practices to ensure a better future for animals, farmers, and society.