Nocton Dairies Ltd - cows belong in fields

Compassion opposes 8,000 dairy cow ‘mega-dairy’

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), the world’s leading international farm animal welfare organisation, anticipates that activity surrounding the second planning application for a ‘mega-dairy’ known as Nocton Dairies, Lincolnshire, may commence shortly.

In December 2009, Nocton Dairies Ltd submitted an application to North Kesteven District Council for construction of an industrial-scale dairy facility where 8,100 cows would spend most of their lives indoors. The milk factory would become the first such ‘mega-dairy’ in the UK. ‘Mega-dairies’ are already common in the United States where the vast majority of cows get little or no access to pasture. *

The initial submission gave rise to widespread objections by local residents, politicians and animal welfare organisations. Over 170 Members of Parliament signed a House of Commons Early Day Motion (EDM 1037) opposing the so-called ‘super dairy’ and echoing the concerns of local residents.

Compassion in World Farming submitted its own official objection to the scheme on the basis that the plan raised major detrimental environmental issues for the local residents.

In the face of widespread and very public disapproval the submission was withdrawn with the intention of revising the proposal and resubmitting it to the local council. Compassion believes there is no reason to expect that the revised plans for the Nocton Dairy will have substantially addressed the original concerns of CIWF and others.

The unnatural confinement of dairy cows prevents them from engaging in natural behaviour such as grazing on grass. This is a fundamental requirement of the Five Freedoms drawn up by the government’s advisory body, the Farm Animal Welfare Council.**

These intensive systems, where cows are pushed beyond their natural limits to produce excessive amounts of milk pose a huge threat to the animals’ welfare. The anticipated level of milk production from high-yielding cows is around 11,000 litres per annum per cow as opposed to the UK average of around 7,000 litres per annum.

High yielding dairy cows are known to be at increased risk of health problems such as lameness, mastitis, infertility, loss of body condition and ultimately a reduced lifespan.

In response to the strong public feeling against the Nocton ‘mega-dairy’, and in anticipation of the imminent re-submission of the planning proposal, Compassion in World Farming is working closely with the local communities, planning consultants, lawyers, scientists and environmental experts. We will be examining the new plans forensically to see whether they address the original concerns of the public and the planning authorities.

Philip Lymbery, Chief Executive of Compassion in World Farming, said: “Nocton is not just a campaign about dairy, it is a campaign about the future of farming in the UK. The idea that we need so-called ‘mega-dairy’ farms to keep pace with demand for milk is totally wrong.

“Milk from cows kept indoors for most of their lives and pushed to their physical limits to produce ever more milk, is a future that the majority of consumers are unlikely to accept.”

“If we are to preserve the integrity of our ‘white stuff’, we should remember the basic biological truth that cows eat grass and therefore need to graze.

“Instead of huge dairies with thousands of cows kept permanently indoors, what is really needed is support for humane and sustainable dairy production.”

NOTES

* Definition of zero grazing- whereby cows are confined through most or all of lactation and may be allowed out to pasture (if at all) during a period of about two months at the end of lactation and before the birth of their next calf.

** The Five Freedoms were developed by the UK government’s advisory body, the Farm Animal Welfare Council. They have since been used widely as a starting point for those drafting legislation or guidance on farm animal welfare. The original author, John Webster, Emeritus Professor at Bristol University, and a global authority on farm animal welfare, has said he would like to add a sixth freedom” Freedom of Choice”, meaning that the animal can make choices over where it wants to be e.g. indoors or out. www.fawc.org.uk/freedoms.htm

1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

2. Freedom from Discomfort - by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.

5. Freedom from Fear and Distress - by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Reference for US dairy cows without access to pasture http://www.farmsanctuary.org/mediacenter/assets/reports/dairy_report.pdf
Quoting USDA (United States Department for Agriculture statistics)