Huge rise in factory-style dairy farming of ‘battery cows’ in UK as costs rise

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Factory-style dairy farming has more than doubled in the UK over the past decade, with at least 180 farms now confining cows indoors due to rising costs and milk price pressures. This trend raises concerns regarding animal welfare and agricultural practices.

Investigation finds number of dairy farms where cows cannot go outside has more than doubled since 2015 There has been a huge rise in factory-style dairy farming of “battery cows” in the UK as farmers struggle with increasing costs and face selling milk at a loss. 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. Continue reading...