No more dairy farms!

Consumers are sold a picturesque image of lucious green fields and doting farmers, but Animal Justice Project's 16-farm investigation shows a very different story. This is The Big Milk Con.

We are calling on the UK Government to stop supporting further expansion and intensification of dairy farming, including new large-scale dairy developments, introduce a moratorium on any new dairy operations, and establish a funded transition to help dairy farmers leave the industry.

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The Rt Hon

Angela

Eagle

UK Government

To: Dame Angela Eagle MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Stephen Morgan MP, Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Britain’s dairy industry is changing. There are fewer farms, but herds are becoming larger and production increasingly intensive. 71% of dairy cows are now kept on farms with more than 150 cows, compared with just 37% in 2005. At the same time, dairy farmers face significant economic pressures and consumer habits are changing: people in the UK drink 27% less cow’s milk per person than they did a decade ago.

The industry’s response has been further consolidation and intensification, concentrating production into fewer, larger operations. And behind this intensification are animals trapped in an exploitative system.

Animal Justice Project’s investigation at 16 Arla farms across 13 counties has documented abusive handling, severe lameness and injury, violent treatment and the separation of vulnerable calves from their mothers. From farm to farm and county to county, repeated violations were caught on camera over the period of one year – it is not one bad worker or one poorly-run farm, these issues are systemic and industry-wide.

However, consumers are sold a very different picture: happy cows in lush green fields, doting farmers and so-called ‘higher welfare’ standards. This is The Big Milk Con.

The answer is not further intensification nor simply returning production to smaller farms. Cows and calves will still face horrors and still be seen as commodities. Cows will continue to be impregnated for their milk, mothers and calves separated, and ultimately sent to slaughter when they are no longer profitable.

Instead of expansion, it is imperative that the Government helps farmers leave the industry and support them in building a viable future away from animal agriculture.

We are calling on the UK Government to:

1. STOP THE EXPANSION: Stop supporting further expansion and intensification of dairy farming, including new large-scale dairy developments and significant expansion of existing units.
2. INTRODUCE A MORATORIUM: Introduce an immediate moratorium on dairy operations and develop a long-term strategy away from dairy production. 
3. FUND A FAIR TRANSITION: Establish a funded transition scheme to help dairy farmers leave the industry, enabling them to convert to plant-based production or other sustainable animal-free sources of income.

Stop making The Big Milk Con bigger. Stop intensifying the problem. Help dairy farmers transition and create a sustainable future for everyone.

Yours sincerely,

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