Huge rise in factory-style dairy farming of ‘battery cows’ in UK as costs rise
Summary
The UK has seen a large increase in factory-style dairy farms where cows live indoors all year. This rise is linked to farmers facing higher costs and selling milk at a loss, pushing them to farm more cows in bigger, intensive units to stay in business.Key Facts
- The number of dairy farms keeping cows indoors all year has more than doubled from about 70 in 2015 to at least 180 now.
- The number of very large dairy farms (with over 700 cows) has doubled to 40, with some farms holding up to 2,600 cows.
- Unlike poultry or pig farms, large dairy farms in the UK do not need an environmental permit, so the government lacks full data on their locations and numbers.
- Farmers face higher costs for fertilizer, fuel, and animal feed, sometimes having to sell milk for less than it costs to produce.
- Some large dairy farms supply major companies like Arla, Müller, and Saputo, which then sell to UK supermarkets.
- Satellite and drone investigation found 42 large factory-style dairy units, mainly in southwest England and Cheshire.
- The average UK dairy herd size is 160 cows, much smaller than the large intensive farms.
- Opinions among farmers vary; some say indoor systems improve productivity and animal health, while others worry about animal welfare, the environment, and the future for smaller farms.
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