Red Tractor Audits: Trust in Every Drop

Here at Trewithen Dairy, we believe that exceptional dairy products start with exceptional standards. We’re often asked about our quality assurance processes, and today we’re pulling back the curtain on our Red Tractor audits and how they guide us in our mission to achieve the highest levels of animal health, welfare and husbandry. Every step of our process is carefully monitored and verified, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Let us take you behind the scenes of what a Red Tractor audit means for Trewithen Dairy, and why it matters for your morning cuppa..

Understanding the Red Tractor Scheme

The Red Tractor audits are a set of comprehensive assessments which are widely recognised as being the mark of good farming practices in Britain. Red Tractor certification is the largest farm assurance membership in the U.K. and reflects our unwavering commitment to producing the finest Cornish dairy products while maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare, food safety, and environmental stewardship.  

For us (and our farmers), these assessments are more than just a tick-box exercise. We strive to go above and beyond Red Tractor standards to do the best for the cows and the land upon which they graze. Our Trew Farming Standards guide us in our commitment to our farmers who understand that the health and happiness of their cows is a vital part of the financial success of any dairy farm and its long-term sustainability.

What is the Red Tractor Scheme?

The Red Tractor scheme is a British farm assurance scheme that ensures the food you are eating has been responsibly produced and that it comes from crops and animals that have been well cared for. All food and drink with a Red Tractor logo on it can be traced back through the supply chain to the British farms it came from – food proudly bearing the logo has been responsibly produced using rigorously high British standards. Take a look at this video to learn more about what Red Tractor certification means:

The Importance of Red Tractor Certification in UK Agriculture

Since its establishment in 2000, Red Tractor has evolved to become the definitive benchmark for British food standards, ensuring that products bearing its mark are traceable, safe, and responsibly produced. Far more than just a logo, Red Tractor certification represents a robust farm assurance system that underpins the integrity of our nation’s food supply chain. 

In an era where food provenance and sustainability are increasingly important to shoppers, Red Tractor certification acts as a vital bridge between producers and consumers, fostering transparency and trust in British farming. The scheme’s comprehensive standards make it an essential pillar in maintaining the UK’s reputation for high-quality agricultural production.

Quote Red Tractor says that the scheme is important because it “Enables farmers to make commitments and track their progress across five key areas for environmentally focused farming: carbon footprinting; soil management; nutrient management; waste management; and biodiversity” 

How Trewithen Dairy Participates in the Red Tractor Scheme

At Trewithen Dairy, our relationship with Cornwall’s farming community runs deep, with every drop of milk coming from family farms nestled within our beautiful county. Each of our supplying farms is carefully selected and proudly Red Tractor certified, upholding the exacting standards we’ve maintained since our beginnings in 1994. 

We work closely with our network of local farmers, many of whom we’ve known for generations, ensuring they receive regular support and guidance in maintaining Red Tractor compliance. Our dedicated farm liaison team makes regular visits to each farm, building personal relationships that go beyond mere business transactions. 

During Red Tractor audits, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our farmers, supporting them through the rigorous inspection process that examines everything from cow welfare and milk quality to environmental stewardship and regenerative farming. This close partnership approach means we’re not just meeting Red Tractor standards – we’re often exceeding them. 

The passion and dedication of our Cornish farming families shine through in every aspect of their work, from the meticulous care of their herds to the pristine condition of their milking parlours, reflecting our shared commitment to producing exceptional dairy products that Cornwall can be proud of.

The Red Tractor Audit Process

For our customers, the Red Tractor logo provides immediate assurance that every bottle of milk and pot of cream from Trewithen Dairy meets scrupulous quality and safety standards. 

The process begins with thorough documentation reviews, where our records of milk testing, animal health, feed sources, and staff training are meticulously examined by independent auditors. During the physical inspection, assessors conduct detailed walk-throughs of the facilities, scrutinising everything from the cleanliness of the milking parlours to the condition of the storage tanks. They observe our milking processes, verify our cold chain maintenance, and assess our quality control procedures. 

Red Tractor audits aren’t just annual events – we maintain these exacting standards year-round through regular internal checks and continuous monitoring. What makes us particularly proud is how our farmers embrace these audits not as challenges to overcome, but as opportunities to demonstrate their commitment to excellence in Cornish dairy farming.

Benefits of Red Tractor Certification

The Red Tractor certification gives consumers the confidence that they are buying the best quality produce. It means that our products can be traced back to their source on Cornwall’s family farms, where every step of the production process is carefully monitored and documented. By choosing Red Tractor-certified products, consumers actively support British farming families and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. 

Our farmers implement sustainability measures to protect local wildlife, manage water resources efficiently, and reduce their carbon footprint. Animal welfare is at the heart of our certification – our cows enjoy year-round access to Cornwall’s lush pastures when weather permits, receive regular veterinary care, and are housed in comfortable, well-maintained facilities during adverse weather.

These high standards aren’t just good for our cows; they result in superior quality milk and dairy products that our customers can trust. Through Red Tractor certification, we’re actively participating in the future of sustainable British farming while ensuring the highest levels of animal care and product quality.

Does Red Tractor Mean Grass-Fed?

While Red Tractor certification ensures high standards of farm management and animal welfare, it’s important to note that it doesn’t specifically require cows to be exclusively grass-fed. Here at Trewithen Dairy, our Cornish farm locations mean our cows naturally spend significant time grazing on our lush Cornish pastures when weather conditions allow – it’s part of our farming heritage and one of the reasons our milk tastes so good. However, Red Tractor standards focus on ensuring animals receive a balanced and nutritious diet appropriate for their needs throughout the year.

Is Red Tractor Free-Range?

Red Tractor’s focus is on overall animal welfare, ensuring cows have comfortable living conditions whether they’re inside or out, proper nutrition, regular veterinary care, and enough space to move freely and exhibit natural behaviours. However the Red Tractor certification and “free-range” are two different standards that sometimes get confused. While Red Tractor requires high standards of animal welfare, including access to outdoor space when conditions are suitable, it doesn’t mandate the same specific outdoor access requirements that “free-range” certification demands. 

On our farms, our farmers prioritise giving our cows regular access to Cornwall’s green pastures, but we also understand that there are times when keeping them indoors is better for their welfare – such as during harsh weather conditions, when fields are too wet, or during necessary veterinary treatments. Our farmers make decisions based on what’s best for their herds’ wellbeing throughout Cornwall’s changing seasons, and all cows have a minimum of 120 days of grazing. This balanced approach helps us maintain happy, healthy cows and the best quality, tastiest milk. 

Our Commitment To Exceeding Red Tractor Requirements

Ever since the early days of Trewithen Farm, we have been driven by the overarching ethos of “delicious dairy, done right”. We call this commitment to animal health and welfare TrewFarming – it is what we and our farmers believe in and do every day of the year. 

All Trewithen Dairy herds are in the top 25% of herds nationally for all 14 areas measured by the Herd Health Mnitor – something that we and they are very proud of. Nevertheless, we aren’t sitting on our laurels and we do everything we can to be the very best we can be.

Specific practices implemented at Trewithen Dairy

Our core TrewFarming Standards can be seen below, and we will continue to evolve as we are determined to keep on improving and doing the best for our animals, our farmers, and our valued customers. 

• 100% of our farmers are committed to reducing their carbon footprint. Having tools to measure their carbon provides us with the foundations to learn, communicate achievements and share best practices.
• Since 2020 our dairy farms have been leading the way in regenerative farming practices, cherishing our soil and farming in harmony with nature.  Diverse cropping systems enhance soil functions, improve resilience to changing conditions, and support belowground biodiversity.
• Each dairy herd must be provided with grazing for a minimum of 120 days per year, for at least 4 hours per day.
• Since 2017 Trewithen Dairy farmers have been fully participating in antibiotic monitoring and results to date show that their usage of antibiotics is already well below government targets.
• All Trewithen Dairy farmers participate in a comprehensive Herd Health Monitoring Programme. Overseen by leading dairy farm advisers, this comprises the monitoring of the health and well-being of all cows. 
• We fund regular dairy farming workshops where our farmers discuss issues affecting them and their dairy enterprises, share ideas and best practice, and seek to identify ways to drive improvements in animal health and welfare.
• All male calves born on the farm must not be euthanised unless necessary to alleviate pain and suffering.

The Future of Red Tractor and Sustainable Farming

The future of Red Tractor certification is evolving to meet the growing demands of sustainable agriculture and changing consumer expectations. As we at Trewithen Dairy look ahead, we see Red Tractor’s standards continuously adapting to address crucial challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and the need for even greater transparency in food production. 

We’re particularly excited about upcoming developments in digital tracking systems that will allow even greater traceability and real-time monitoring of farm standards. Our Cornish farming families are already embracing these changes, implementing innovative practices like precision farming techniques, renewable energy solutions, and enhanced water management systems. 

Through our participation in Red Tractor’s evolution, we’re helping to shape a future where sustainable farming practices aren’t just an option but the standard. As Red Tractor standards continue to advance, we’re proud to be at the forefront of sustainable dairy farming, demonstrating that traditional farming values and modern environmental stewardship can work hand in hand.

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