Published 29/09/2013

Compassion in World Farming has exposed an American style 'feedlot' in Louth, Lincolnshire. In America, cattle are often kept in barren, grass-less crowded pens known as feedlots. A concerned local resident alerted Compassion who sent the team at Raw to investigate.

The Raw investigations team was shocked to discover cows being kept in high-stocking densities, lacking access to shelter from extreme weather and not having dry ground to rest on. The feedlot is concealed by a large wall of straw bales. Straw bales are not classified as a permanent structure which allows the operation to avoid planning permission.

There are huge animal welfare and environmental problems associated with feedlots. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has stated that this way of farming "…can pose a number of risks to water quality and public health, mainly because of the amount of animal manure and wastewater they generate."

Philip Lymbery, CEO of Compassion says "Cows belong on pasture, not in muddy, barren and grass-less feedlots."

"This feedlot could set a precedent in the UK to move towards US style feedlots. I believe the future of UK farming and indeed farming worldwide, should be a higher welfare pasture based system."

Compassion was concerned to discover that plans have been submitted to move the feedlot to a larger location nearby. This potential expansion could lead to deterioration in animal welfare and environmental problems such as groundwater pollution.

An incredible 15,000 people have already signed Compassion's petition that urges East Lindsey District Council to conduct a thorough investigation of the Louth feedlot and proposed expansion plans.

If you haven't already, please take action to stop this farming madness.