Milk Factories

[oldjerry]

On the farming prog on R4 this morning there was news of plans to build an 8000 cow unit on zero grazing on someting like 200 acres indoors.(actual figures might be a bit sketchy,I hadn't had a brew and 2 paracetemol).If anyone's interested it should be available on the i player very soon.

[Stonehead]

This is the current position...

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/bus ... 71.article

The Government view on it...

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/hot ... 46.article

And the RSPCA...

http://tiny.cc/kdtc3

[123sologne]

I already send a letter to my MP about this one a few month back. His letter back to me was far from being against it saying that it has already been proven that the animals will not suffer blah, blah, blah... I would lock him up in that farm with another 7999 MPs see if he liked it!!!

[oldjerry]

You guys are clearly way ahead of me on this.It seems to me that only 'consumer power' will change this as with battery hens and farrowing crates.Maybe it's because 'consumption' is a dirty word round here,is why I feel so helpless.I wouldn't waste 2mins of my life writing to our local M.P. his family own Waterstones and his mates own Shropshire,and as for the R.S.P.C.A.

[Green Aura]

There's a big campaign by Viva on Facebook here http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id= ... 0675121942

[mamos]

The RSPCA will probably do very well out of it.

Plus an enterprise like this is going to push the price of mild down squeezing out smaller producers

mamos

[oldjerry]

Good point Mamos I remember a few years back when they built a 1000 cow zero grazing unit up Launceston way my then neighbour,and still good friend,was horrified,and he milks 130 normally, not far from you ( towards PZ).The dairy industry has quite enough issues with A.I , pushing cows to hard to produce, TB,cloning etc etc without all this.

[bonniethomas06]

My worthless piece of **** MP did the same - wrote me a condescending letter saying that in his opinon it was fine, since there was a vet on hand 24/7 and it needn't quash the local farmers.

Sorry, a herd of 8,000 v a herd of 50? They must be putting something in the water in Westminster. And anyway, isn't his job to represent what we think, rather than decide what is wrong and right? Makes my blood boil.

[123sologne]

The RSPCA will probably do very well out of it.

Plus an enterprise like this is going to push the price of mild down squeezing out smaller producers

mamos

That is the problem. Then the majority of idiots who couldn't care less will be happy as they will get cheap milk!

[Green Aura]

I just saw this on The Ecologist FB page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBlVGVAS ... r_embedded

Warning - It's not nice.

[oldjerry]

To be honest,withrespect GA, I can't bring myself to watch it.