A Canadian dairy giant says it will no longer buy milk from farmers who mistreat their animals.

Quebec-based Saputo, one of the largest dairy processors in the world, announced its new policy Tuesday in the wake of an undercover video last year that showed workers at one of its suppliers viciously beating cattle.

Eight employees of the Chilliwack Cattle Company in B.C. were fired after Mercy for Animals released the footage.

"Saputo has zero tolerance for any act of animal cruelty," the company said in a statement Tuesday. "This includes, but is not limited to, willful mistreatment and neglect of animals and acts that maliciously cause pain, injury or suffering. We expect all dairy cattle workers (employers and employees) to adopt and adhere to proper animal care and handling methods at all times."

Saputo will require suppliers to commit to a code of conduct, renewed each year, and to provide animal welfare training for employees. It also wants to change two common industry practices — to eliminate tail docking and to stop dehorning or disbudding cattle without pain control. The latter involves removing horn "buds" soon after birth.

Any supplier that violates the policy — based on "credible evidence" of animal cruelty — will be suspended and will have to follow strict criteria to be reinstated.

Mercy for Animals praised Saputo's announcement and called on other large dairy companies to follow suit.

"It's never been clearer that the days are numbered for dairy factory farms that beat and drag cows, and mutilate them without painkillers," the group said in a statement Tuesday.