Dairy Production Systems LLC. High Springs Florida

Dairy Production Systems
23343 NW County Road 236
High Springs, Florida 32643

(386) 454-7977
(386) 454-7966 - fax

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DPS Statement on Animal Welfare

DPS Headquarters In the wake of the latest animal abuse scandal that occurred recently, DPS President and CEO David Sumrall issued the following response:

"As a Southern farm boy and an animal lover, the horrific animal abuse displayed by an Ohio dairy worker and depicted on the undercover footage that surfaced on the internet recently was almost more than I could bear to watch. To think that anyone could for any reason treat any animal in that manner is almost beyond my ability to comprehend.

However, I am aware that there are all kinds of people in this world, and some that simply have no morals or scruples whatsoever. It is for this reason that we have rules and laws in our country by which we can hold people accountable. I am happy to learn that the individual who performed these vicious acts on film has been fired and subsequently arrested, and is subject to prosecution. I personally as well as on behalf of DPS support all efforts to bring justice to this individual or any other who is a part of animal abuse.

Supreme cow care has always and will continue to be our goal at DPS. The healthiest and happiest cows are the most productive cows, and it is the job of every employee at all DPS-owned or managed locations to insure that our cows come first. It has long been a standing rule that any incident involving abuse and/or neglect of our animals is grounds for immediate dismissal. This is broadly covered in Section 601 of our Employee Handbook, which states that employees may be dismissed due to "Negligence or improper conduct leading to damage of Company-owned or customer-owned property."

As a response to this incident together with others that have surfaced in other operations in recent history, I have authorized the crafting of tougher and more specific language dealing with the animal welfare aspect of our workplace, including an insert that details the local, state and federal statutes and penalties that apply in each location. It is the policy of DPS to provide supreme cow care, and furthermore to fully participate in the prosecution of anyone who in any way abuses or neglects an animal.

Finally, as a part of DPS's continuing training program, I have commissioned an employee awareness and training session that will specifically deal with animal welfare issues. This training will be mandatory for all current farm employees to attend, and will include a certification process that will conclude with each employee signing a pledge to support the supreme cow care policy of DPS. All new applicants for employment will be required to complete similar training upon their hiring and sign a pledge that becomes a part of their employment files as well.

To be perfectly clear, DPS takes animal welfare seriously, and any employee of DPS who does not agree with that philosophy and pledge to support it should immediately seek employment elsewhere. I intend to personally see that our management, oversight, and follow-through on this issue are flawless. Our cattle deserve nothing less."

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