Published 11/07/2012

Dairy farmers from across the country are converging on Westminster this afternoon to protest at cuts to the price they get for their milk, which they say are putting their livelihoods in jeopardy.

Commenting on the issue, Dil Peeling, Compassion's Director of Public Affairs, says: "Compassion supports British dairy farmers in their call for a fair price for their product, indeed we view this as one of the factors that affects dairy cow welfare.

"Quite simply, when the price farmers get for their milk is forced down, the welfare of their cows so often gets pushed down with it. The last thing we need is for farm gate prices to sink so low that farmers feel forced to push their cows beyond their limits or move into large scale but unsustainable models of production, such as American style mega dairies. This would be damaging for our dairy farmers, and disastrous for our hard-working dairy cows. We urge the government and industry to take notice of this protest today and work towards a solution that gives farmers a fair price for their product and ensures a humane and viable future for British dairy farming."