UK sees huge rise in battery cow' dairy farms, investigation reveals

Intensive factory-style dairy farming is increasing in the UK as farmers face higher costs and sell milk at a loss. The number of dairy farms permanently confining cattle indoors has more than doubled over the past decade, reaching at least 180 farms where cows have no outdoor access. Mega dairies have also doubled, with 40 farms housing more than 700 cows each, including the largest with 2,600 cows. Unlike intensive poultry and pig operations, large dairy units are not required to hold environmental permits, leaving the government without reliable counts or locations. Rising shortages of fertiliser, fuel, and feed have pushed production costs higher, while some farmers report receiving as little as 28p per litre against about 40p production costs. Some farmers say they adopt more intensive systems to boost productivity, while major processors and retailers continue to earn substantial profits.

"The number of intensive dairy farms that permanently confine some of their cattle indoors has more than doubled in the past 10 years, an investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) has found. Data suggests there are now at least 180 dairy farms where cows have no access to the outdoors up from about 70 in 2015."

"While intensive poultry and pig farms are regulated, large dairy units in the UK are not required to hold an environmental permit. This means the government does not know how many there are, or where. The number of mega farms is increasing as farmers in the UK struggle to make ends meet."

"Shortages of essentials including fertiliser, fuel and feed have prompted costs to shoot up in recent months. Some farmers have been forced to sell milk for as little as 28p per litre, despite it costing around 40p to produce."

"Many farmers have said they were forced to go big and adopt more-intensive systems to boost productivity. They feel like they've got to do it, said one farmer, who asked to remain anonymous. Some of the intensive dairy units have supplied big players in the dairy industry such as Arla, Muller and Saputo that in turn supply UK supermarkets, in some cases raking in huge profits."

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