Februdairy campaign highlights benefits of milk
© Tim Scrivener The social media campaign Februdairy – which is running throughout February to celebrate the dairy industry – has got off to a flying start.
Milk producers and supporters are promoting all things dairy across social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
See also: Branded milk could offer brighter future for dairy industry
It follows a month-long Veganuary campaign during which vegan activists urged people to stop consuming animal products and adopt a plant-based diet instead.
Farmers insist plant-based dairy products shouldn’t be referred to as milk.
Morning all happy #Februdairy to you all. I’m a firm believer that Milk should come from a cow ? pic.twitter.com/OcaeBDBRTS
— charles anyan Ⓜ️ (@CharlesAnyan) February 1, 2019
The Februdairy initiative first gained momentum following a tweet from independent livestock sustainability consultant Jude Capper in 2017.
She is backing the campaign again this year.
Starting the first day of #Februdairy19 with a glorious #cheese omelette. High-quality #protein from #milk, cheese and eggs – thank goodness for mighty #dairy #cows and the farmers who care for them. #Februdairy #cheesefest #celebratecheese pic.twitter.com/YR8ZAehOqW
— Dr Jude Capper ??? (@Bovidiva) February 1, 2019
Other farmers are showing innovative ways of getting the best from milk.
It’s the first of #Februdairy!
Celebrating the fabulous white stuff and our dedicated British dairy farmers#TeamDairy #BuyLocal #BuyBritish #Milkman pic.twitter.com/Seup477tnk— #clubhectare (@clubhectare2211) February 1, 2019
Some producers are tweeting cows walking through fields.
Support our British dairy farmers #Februdairy @februdairy pic.twitter.com/NsklKYNSwZ
— Emily Ackland (@emilyackland1) February 1, 2019
They are keen to show the industry at its best.
First day of #Februdairy, looking forward to celebrating a whole month of these amazing girls that turn grass into milk #Milk #PositiveMessage #GrassToMilk #DairyIsntScary pic.twitter.com/gaCAkQJQvO
— Ella Forrest (@forrest_el) February 1, 2019
Last month dairy farmer and marketing consultant Andy Venables called for an overhaul in the way milk is promoted – describing it as “a complete mess”.
“It frustrates the hell out of me that milk is so poorly marketed,” said Mr Venables, who milks 300 cows on his family farm and runs Hillsgreen Marketing in Cheshire.
“It is seen as a loss leader and the lowest of the low.”
The dairy industry could learn a lot from the vegan movement, which had attracted huge media coverage despite accounting for just 1.16% of the UK population, said Mr Venables.