[waterbuffalofarmer]

hey guys I was reading this piece of news and I think it is a complete and utter outrage! Animal welfare goes out the window if this goes ahead!
http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/12/06/2014/145004/planning-victory-for-1000-cow-welsh-dairy.htm

[Sbom]

Why does animal welfare go out of the window?

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Because you cannot have 1000 cows on a grass based system, I think all intensive farming is wrong. It is unatural for 1000 cows to be in buildings all the time. I had a brother who worked in an intensive dairy farm and they had supacows, which literally gave milk for over a year ,or more, only on one calving, also they gave them a specific mixed ration and if anyone messed it up slightly they could become seriously ill. The reason why I hate intensive farming is because they treat them like machines and not like animals.

[Steph Hen]

In a country where bottled water costs more than bottled milk, moving to more efficient, intensive systems is inevitable. I think they'll look after the cows as well as possible, even if they don't get to graze. The only dairy farms I have known have closed down.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I was talking about this to someone the other day about the prices of food. The reason why farmers need to have more animals to build a good business and bring in a nice paycheck is because it is not the supermarkets faults, like we are all led to believe, it is in fact, difficult as it is for me to say it, the consumers faults. The supermarkets are just giving in to demands for good food at a knocked down price.

[Sbom]

I believe that after spending so much time and money getting this set up that welfare will be at the very top of his agenda. It's also in his best interests financially to look after the cows very well, a badly looked after cow will not milk to the best of her capability and the longer he keeps her well and happy the more profitable she will be.
They will have the best housing, feed and care possible and where no turn out is far from ideal neither is keeping beef herds out all winter and expecting them to stand up to their axles in mud to eat round a ring feeder, which is also what a lot of farmers do!

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I know,I knew of a farmer who didn't look after his animals properly. The reason why I am annoyed is if this is allowed how many more will be allowed and then it'll become like America. That is what really annoys me.

[SallyintNorth]

I'm no fan of large-scale / intensive farming operations, and I hate to think of any grazing animal never feeling the sun on its back, but when outdoor cows continually get infected with TB, what is the answer?

And, reading that article, there will be 12 full-time staff and 4 part-time staff for 1000 cows.  That's probably more attention per cow than they get in little family farms.

[shygirl]

a farmer near me is "scotch assured" and his beef cattle live 24/7 in a shed. with very little view of outside. yes - they are grass fed...silage.

[Backinwellies]

supacows, which literally gave milk for over a year ,or more, only on one calving,.

1) Anyone who knows about dairy production would know that the nearer to a calf a year you get the better the output per cow. .. so a large scale business would aim to be as close to this as possible

2) Welfare on these large scale systems is often far better than on small farms ... it has to be to get the output.

I definitely do not agree with these systems (cows should in this country be outside in my optinion) but wouldn't criticize on these 2 issues.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

supacows, which literally gave milk for over a year ,or more, only on one calving,.

1) Anyone who knows about dairy production would know that the nearer to a calf a year you get the better the output per cow. .. so a large scale business would aim to be as close to this as possible

2) Welfare on these large scale systems is often far better than on small farms ... it has to be to get the output.

I definitely do not agree with these systems (cows should in this country be outside in my optinion) but wouldn't criticize on these 2 issues.

My brother worked on an intensive dairy farm for a few years the cows were treated well, I think. However they did have supacows which gave enormous, unnatural, quantities of milk, after about 3 years they had to be put down, it is just so sad.

[in the hills]

I don't know enough about the dairy industry or complications associated with high welfare in this area so can't comment much on these points from a basis of sound knowledge or understanding  ..... but I just feel it is a step in the wrong direction and quite sad.

This is happening very close to where I live. All I can say that it is not popular on many counts. Haven't yet met anyone with anything good to say. A lot of factors are very 'local' eg. smell, traffic issues but farmers around me say that it is a step too far to keep dairy cows this intensively. They are very aware of problems making a living in dairy industry. Son-in-law of one of those against this development farms nr. Welshpool and has just sold his dairy herd .... can't make it pay. However, they seem to think that it is 'wrong'.

Where abouts in Mid Wales are you WBF ..... ?

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Ceredigion. Yes it is very sad indeed.

[Berkshire Boy]

I really can't see the problem. It's about time people grew up and realised the only way to feed the world is with large herds wether it be cows, pigs or chickens. Smallholders will never feed the population we are only playing at it. The welfare in these units will be second to none, if you have a problem with food raised in this manner grow your own or become a vegetarian.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Thanks for that comment. I do grow my own food milk eggs meat and cheese so am pretty self sufficient oh plus veg too. Supacows are not natural however. Frisians are ok supacows are not because after three years they have to be put down and are on so strict a diet that a slight change kills them. I should know my brother helped milk a lot of cows down in Cambridgeshire and he was appalled at how much they gave.